Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Thursday that friendly relations between Japan and China play a crucial role in the development of both countries, Kyodo News reported.

Koizumi told reporters at his office that it is important to be farsighted and to improve friendly ties with China at a time when bilateral ties are confronted by some opinion differences.

Referring to a possible meeting between the leaders of China and Japan during the Asian-African summit beginning Friday in Jakarta, Koizumi said he hoped the talks could be a turning point and that ties would improve after the meeting.

Koizumi left for Jakarta Thursday evening for the two-day Asian-African summit.

Earlier this month, Japan's education ministry approved a revised history textbook criticized by some Asian countries for distorting history and whitewashing Japan's colonial rules and wartime atrocities last century.

The textbook issue triggered protests in Asian countries including China and Republic of Korea.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2005)