Abe said on Thursday that Japan and China are close-related and strengthening bilateral political ties is beneficial to regional and global peace.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Finance Minister Koji Omi attend the Lower House Budget Committee in Tokyo October 5, 2006. [Reuters]

Abe said during a session of the House of Representatives Budget Committee that Japan's relations with China and South Korea are both closely related and inseparable.

Japan's economy is "inseparable" from these bilateral ties, and efforts should be made to build "relations of trust" in economic and other areas, he said.

He said frank exchanges of views, goals and ideals are the first step in building the "relations of trust."

Abe, who took office on Sept. 26, will pay an official visit to China on Oct. 8-9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced on Wednesday.

When answering a question about Japan's responsibility on launching the Asia-Pacific War, Abe said that "As a result of starting war, we left many scars on the people of Asia. Including my grandfather (former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi), the leaders had great responsibility. Since politicians have to take responsibility for any outcomes, that decision certainly was wrong."

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