China will continue to improve Sino-Japanese relations in the spirit of learning from history and facing the future, despite the recent cabinet reshuffle by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a regular press conference yesterday that China always advocates improving and developing Sino-Japanese ties in the principle of the three political documents the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Peace and Friendship Treaty and the Sino-Japanese Joint Declaration and following the spirit of learning from history and facing the future.

In a cabinet reshuffle on Monday, Koizumi appointed to key posts two politicians known to support his annual visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

Kong also repeated Beijing's "strong opposition" to Japanese leaders visiting the shrine, saying they were in violation of Japan's commitments to show remorse over its wartime atrocities.

"The visits to the Yasukuni Shrine are not a matter of dialogue," Kong said, "but a serious political issue."

He said it is a question of whether the Japanese side can truly keep its commitment to show remorse over history and pursue peaceful development. He said Sino-Japanese relations are facing difficulties now, but the responsibility does not lie with the Chinese side.

"The key to overcoming the difficulties and to bringing bilateral ties back to the normal level of development is concrete action by the Japanese side, and not just words, to show the political will to improve relations," Kong said.

Editor: Yan