Fukuda: Japan will learn from militarism

BEIJING, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda says his country will learn from its history of militarism and not make the same mistakes in the future.

Speaking at Beijing's Peking University this week, Fukuda said future Japanese generations will learn from their country's problematic history with wartime militarism, the Kyodo news service reported Saturday.

"I believe we can prevent mistakes in the future only if we properly look at the past, and have the courage and wisdom to repent what we must repent," the prime minister said Friday.

The Japanese official made his comments during a four-day visit to China, during which he detailed how both countries were in a position to make a positive impact on Asia and even the world.

"The fact that Japan and China have come to acquire the abilities to contribute to the stability and development of Asia and the world is a big chance for the two countries," Fukuda said.