China presses Japan on sex slaves

Japan must confront its past of coercing women into prostitution with Japanese troops in World War Two, China's foreign minister said on Tuesday, nonetheless stressing hopes of improved ties between the two Asian powers.

"The forced use of so-called 'comfort women' was one of the most serious crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in World War Two," Li Zhaoxing told a news conference on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament.

"I think the Japanese government should recognize historical facts, and should accept the responsibility to earnestly and appropriately deal with this problem," Li said.

In his comments, Li avoided directly criticizing Abe by name and stressed his hopes that Wen's visit will bring the two wartime foes closer together -- a rhetorical contrast to past years when Japan's treatment of its wartime misdeeds dragged relations into frosty confrontation.