Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday urged Japan to properly handle history issues and the Taiwan question.

During talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Wen said the history issues are affecting the national sentiments of the Chinese people and are matters of grave importance and principle which have a direct bearing on the political foundation of China-Japan relations.

The wars of aggression launched by the Japanese militarists against China not only brought catastrophe to the Chinese people, but also inflicted suffering on the Japanese people, Wen said.

"We should take history as a mirror and face up to the future, that is to say we should learn lessons from history and break a new path of friendly cooperation," Wen said.

"We hope that the Japanese side would strictly adhere to the principles stated in the three political documents and properly handle the historical issues to preserve and foster the trend of improvement of bilateral ties," he said.

For his part, Abe said that it is his "ideal and faith" to continue to follow the principles and spirit stated in the three political documents between the two countries and to push forward the development of bilateral relations.

"I will treat history seriously and adhere to the path of peaceful development. There won't be any change in my attitude in the future," he told Wen.

On the Taiwan question, Wen stressed that the issue concerns China's core interests.

China will do its utmost to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue, but is firmly opposed to the "de jure independence" attempt by the Taiwan authorities and all other forms of secessionist activities, he said.

China hopes that Japan would realize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, and would keep its promises and handle the issue prudently, Wen said.

Abe said the Japanese side sticks to its positions stated in the three political documents between the two countries, adding that his country adheres to the one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence."

The two sides also agreed to speed up the process of negotiations on the issue of the East China Sea and try to find a resolution acceptable to both sides at an early date, so as to make the East China Sea "a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation."

After the talks, Wen and Abe attended the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents on such fields as energy and environmental protection.

(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2007)