BEIJING -- Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Tuesday urged Japan to "fully recognize" the complexity and sensitivity of issues concerning history and the Diaoyu Islands.

"They concern the political foundation and overall interests of the China-Japan relations," Yang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.

He called on the Japanese side to "truly take history as mirror and look forward to the future", and "properly handle these sensitive issues" based on the overall interests of the China-Japan relationship.

To enhance strategic trust between China and Japan, it is crucial that both sides view each other's development objectively and strategically, and truly see each other as an opportunity and partner for development, said Yang.

"China-Japan relationship has come a long way in a wide range of fields, and the Chinese government places high importance on its relationship with Japan," said Yang, reflecting on the past 40 years since China and Japan normalized diplomatic relations.

Both sides should intensify exchanges at various levels, particularly between the young people, to involve more people in the course of friendship and improve national sentiment toward the other side, the foreign minister said.

Yang called for more efforts from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea(ROK) to promote the building of the China-Japan-ROK free trade area and push forward the future-oriented, all-dimensional cooperative partnership among the three countries.