TOKYO, May 17 (UPI) -- Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi arrived in Japan Tuesday for an eight-day visit to include meetings with Japanese officials and a visit to the World Expo.
The visit by Wu, described by the official China Daily as "one of China's top problem-solvers," is considered part of a series of trips by officials of both countries to revive relations following violent anti-Japan protests in China. China's Foreign Ministry did not specify which Japanese officials she would meet.
The two countries are at odds over natural resources, conflicting claims on East China Sea islands and interpretations of wartime history.
The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said Wu is expected to meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose periodic visits to the Yasakuni Shrine to honor Japan's war dead spark anger among the Chinese.
Koizumi Monday defended the annual shrine visits by quoting Confucius, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Referring to war criminals buried at the shrine, Koizumi told the Lower House Budget Committee, "Confucius says, 'Condemn the offense, but pity the offender.'"
He added, "Japan has not engaged, nor been involved, in war for 60 years. I cannot understand why it is wrong to pay tribute to the war dead. I'm baffled that it is said I am glorifying militarism."
