Many Chinese Internet users are applauding Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Beijing visit.

Messages on major news Websites have expressed the hope that the visit, the first of its kind in five years, will help thaw chilled ties between the two Asian giants.

Messages have been left on sites including Sina.com and Xinhuanet.com, which themselves led with feature articles on Abe's meetings with Chinese leaders.

"This was a good start. I hope relations between China and Japan will be upgraded to a new level," wrote an anonymous contributor on Sina.com.

"The long-time friendship between China and Japan is the common aspiration and expectation of the two peoples," another said.

A contributor named Ben Ben left a message on Xinhuanet.com, saying that Abe's visit brings a delightful change (to bilateral relations) and he or she hopes there will be less trouble between the two countries.

"Their hands were held together. This is encouraging. Cooperation brings benefits," a contributor named Shui Zhong Jiao Yue said on Xinhuanet, referring to a picture in which Chinese President Hu Jintao shook hands with Abe.

Many writers focused on Abe's remarks regarding recent history between the two countries.

On Sunday, Abe told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao that Japan had caused severe damage and pain to the peoples of Asian countries in World War II.

He said he had deep remorse for that history.

Editor: Yan