Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing Tuesday called on Japan to find a proper solution to the "comfort women" issue.

Zhang said this at a regular press conference, when asked to comment on the non-governmental Women's International War Crimes Tribunal (WIWCT) which was held in Tokyo recently.

The recruitment of "comfort women" was a "grave crime" committed by Japanese militarists during their war of aggression against China, Zhang said.

The recently concluded WIWCT demonstrated the strong indignation of the victims, the righteous people in Japan and the international community, she added.

China hopes Japan will handle this issue in a manner "responsible for history" , Zhang said.

During World War II, the Japanese army forced women of Asian countries to serve as sex slaves for Japanese troops. According to estimates, at least 400,000 Asian women were forced to become " comfort women." China, with 200,000 women recruited and hundreds of "comfort stations" set up in 22 provinces, stood as the biggest sufferer.

(Xinhua 12/12/2000)