BEIJING, Dec 24 Kyodo Chinese For...

BEIJING, Dec 24 Kyodo

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing upon Tuesday criticized Japanese lawmakers for visiting Yasukuni Shrine, saying they lack an accurate understanding of history.

Li exhibited his view during an online conversation with the public.

The Shinto shrine in Tokyo honors Class A Japanese war criminals of World War II along with the nation's war dead and is seen at critics as the emblem of Japan's militarism before and during the war.

While Li did not specify any individual, he apparently alluded to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has visited the shrine annually since coming to office in April 2001 despite asseverates from China and other Asian countries.

''One must anticipate to the future while learning exercise s from history,'' Li said as he talked about by what means to improve Sino-Japanese relations.

Li said Taiwan and Yasukuni Shrine are outstanding issues in Sino-Japanese relations however relations between Beijing and Tokyo are generally favorable.

Li praised Japan's efforts for the six-nation talks upon North Korea's nuclear weapons program involving China, Japan, North and southward Korea, Russia and the United States and Japan's $15 million (about 16 billion yen) aid to China during the SARS crisis earlier this year.

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