BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China hoped Japan would properly handle issues relating to the Yasukuni shrine, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said here Tuesday.

    Ma made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to questions on Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Sadakazu Tanigaki's visit to the shrine.

    China's stance over the Yasukuni shrine issue remained unchanged, Ma said.

    Tanigaki visited the shrine on Monday, which honors 2.5 million war dead including 14 top war criminals.

54 Japanese lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine

    TOKYO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Fifty-four Japanese lawmakers from different political parties on Tuesday visited Tokyo's war-related Yasukuni Shrine during its annual autumn festival.

    Among the visitors were the opposition Liberal Democratic Party members, including lower house vice speaker Seishiro Eto, Ryotaro Tanose, chairman of LDP's General Council, former Secretary General Makoto Koga, as well as former economy minister Takeo Hiranuma and New Party Daichi leader Muneo Suzuki.

    LDP President also paid a visit to the Shrine on Monday.  Full story