Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said yesterday that Asia's people are against Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni Shrine.

The hands of war criminals enshrined at the shrine were tainted with the blood of many Asian people, Qin said at a regular press conference.

Qin was commenting on a report that Koizumi will visit the controversial shrine this year. He said that China's opposition to the visits is based on a want to see a more politically influential Japan.

Qin also announced that Vice Premier Wu Yi will visit the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from October 8 to 11.

(Xinhua News Agency September 30, 2005)