Public opinion polls show a fairly positive view of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit to China.

Almost half of the respondents believe that Sino-Japanese relations will take a turn for the better in the coming year, compared with 11 per cent prior to Abe's visit.

And only 13 per cent thought bilateral ties would get worse, 24 per cent below the previous number.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 8, 2006. [Xinhua]

The poll, sponsored by Asia News Network (ANN) and conducted by the China Daily website, asked more than 100 people of Chinese origin from China, the United States, Canada, Malaysia and France.

A similar survey published by China Youth Daily mirrored the results, with over 75 per cent believing a good relationship with Japan is "important."

Meanwhile, the newspaper also said 45.2 per cent of people believed that Abe's China visit had a "positive impact" on frosty China-Japan ties, 6.5 per cent higher than those who disagreed.

Another poll by Japan's Kyodo News Service on October 10 and 11 found that 83.2 per cent of Japanese people spoke quite highly of Abe's visit to China and the Republic of Korea.

Relations between China and Japan turned cold when former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi persisted in visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class-A war criminals during World War II are honoured.

The ANN poll also pointed out that more than half believe historical factors are the major obstacles to bilateral ties.

And more than 80 per cent of those surveyed are "strongly opposed" or "opposed" to Japanese prime ministers visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.

More than half of the people also believed there will be other rifts, such as the issue of textbooks, between China and Japan even if the Yasukuni Shrine issue is handled properly.