Liu made the remark at a routine press conference 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 Sion-Japan 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.