TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday stressed the significance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Japan in spring as a state guest.

"Japan and China have substantial responsibility for peace and prosperity in the region and in the world," Abe told a House of Councilors plenary session.

"I want to take Xi's visit as an opportunity to clearly show people at home and abroad that the two countries are ready to fulfill that responsibility," Abe said.

He dismissed concern that inviting the Chinese leader as a state guest may be taken by the international community as a sign that Tokyo accepts Beijing's stance on such matters as human rights in China's Uighur-dominated Xinjiang region.

"Japan will say what it has to say and strongly seek a positive response from the Chinese side," the prime minister said.

Asked about the situation in Hong Kong, where antigovernment protests continue, Abe said, "It's important that a free and open Hong Kong continues to proper under the one-country, two-system framework."

"Japan will call on parties concerned to seek a solution through self-restraint and peaceful discussions," the prime minister said.

He suggested a need for South Korea to act to correct its violation of international law on the issue of wartime labor, a cause of strained relations between Tokyo and Seoul.

On North Korea's nuclear and missile development, Abe said, "Japan will support the process between Washington and Pyongyang while persistently pursuing a completely denuclearized North Korea by fully implementing U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions."

JIJI Press