The Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin, has attempted to pave the way for improved relations with Japan by saying that future good relations are more important than history.

Continuing his visit to Japan, he told politicians that China wanted to contribute to peace and stability through broad bilateral contacts for generations to come.

Mr Jiang's visit -- the first by a Chinese head of state -- has been dominated by Tokyo's failure to supply a written apology for its past wartime aggression.

Yesterday, Mr Jiang said Japan should remember for eternity the lessons of this behaviour.