BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday called on Japan to show sincerity and wisdom in handling the history issue.

    Liu made the remark at a routine press conference in Beijing when asked to comment on the issue.

    He said China has repeatedly stated its stance on Japanese leader's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 convicted class-A war criminals from World War II.

    "Our stance is firm and clear," Liu said, stressing that the history issue is a major issue of principle between the two countries, which constitutes the political foundation for the bilateral relations and can't be avoided.

    On March 31, Chinese president Hu Jintao told a group of Japanese visitors who represented seven Japan-China friendship organizations that he is ready to have meetings or dialogues with Japanese leaders as long as they make a clear-cut decision of paying no more visit to the Yasukuni shrine.

    Leaders of the two neighboring countries have halted exchanges of visits for over four years, ever since Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi began paying homage to the war shrine soon after he took office in 2001.

    Six-party talks 

    Liu Jianchao on Thursday urged parties concerned to show flexibility in the dispute over financial issue which stands in the way of the stalled six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

    "The denuclearization on the Korean Peninsular is much more important than the financial issue," said Liu, acknowledging the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have not sought an acceptable solution to their financial dispute.

    "We hope that parties concerned will remove obstacle and disturbance and focus on the denuclearization issue so that the talks could resume as soon as possible," said the spokesman.

    The talks, which have been stalled since last November, complies with the interests of all parties and should move ahead, said Liu.

    Diplomatic agenda

    A) Chinese State Councilor Hua Jianmin will visit Egypt, Turkey and Russia from April 18 to 25.

    Hua will pay the visits at the invitations of the Egyptian government, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin and Assistant to Russian President Victor Ivanov, Liu told the regularpress conference.

    B) Cui Tiankai, assistant to Chinese Foreign Minister, will visit Iran and Russia from April 14 to 18.

    "Cui will exchange views with Iranian and Russian diplomats on Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of common concern," Liu said.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced on Tuesday that Iran had successfully produced low-grade enriched uranium and was at the threshold of global nuclear club.

    "The visit of Cui aims at stepping up exchanges with all parties concerned in a bid to help resolve the Iranian nuclear issue properly," Liu said.

    International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Mohammed ElBaradei started his visit to Iran Thursday morning upon an invitation extended by chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Gholam-Reza Aqazadeh.

    ElBaradei will meet with senior Iranian officials and hold consultations with them on the continuation of Iran's constructive interaction and cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

    "China is concerned about the statement by the Iranian side and is worried about the way in which things are developing," Liu said.

    China appeals to relevant parties to show restraint and not take actions that might aggravate the situation, he said, adding the issue should be properly settled through negotiations and diplomatic efforts.

    Military and other sanctions will not be helpful in the current Iranian situation, and diplomatic solution is the best way out, analysts say.