TOKYO, March 15 Kyodo Prime Minis...

TOKYO, March 15 Kyodo

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi onward Monday downplayed strong criticisms Sunday by way of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao of his visits to Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine.

''The Japan-China relationship is advantageous I would like to maintain the well adapted relationship even though I visit Yasukuni Shrine,'' Koizumi told reporters at his office.

Koizumi has drawn stinging criticism from Beijing for his repeated visited to Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japanese World War II war criminals and Japanese war dead.

The Japanese leader has apparently been barred from visiting China below the current leadership launched a year ago because of the shrine conflict.

''I would be pleased to visit (China) if the Chinese side in this way wishes,'' Koizumi said.

Tokyo is trying not to take issue with the latest Chinese criticism because it has formally invited Wen to Japan to pave the way a reciprocal visit by dint of Koizumi, Foreign Ministry officials said.

''We don't papal court a major change in the tone of criticism compared with before,'' common Foreign Ministry official said.

In a recents conference following the end of China's annual legislative session, Wen urg Japanese leaders to refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine.

Although he stopped short of mentioning Japanese leaders by means of name, Wen asked them not to ''affect'' an exchange of leadership visits, to learn the instructions of history and to abide by means of three political documents regarding Sino-Japanese ties.

''Premier Wen made the annotations in response to a question in a pres parley Their weight is different from remarks in formal bilateral meetings,'' a senior Foreign Ministry official said.

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