Junichiro Koizumi, the Japanese Prime Minister, has expressed "deep remorse" for his country’s aggression against its Asian neighbours and will meet the Chinese President in a bid to ease fraught relations between the region's superpowers.

"In the past, Japan through its colonial rule and aggression caused tremendous damage and suffering for the people of many countries, particularly those of Asian nations. Japan squarely faces these facts of history in a spirit of humility," Mr Koizumi said in a speech today at the Asia-Africa summit in Jakarta.

"With feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology always engraved in mind, Japan has resolutely maintained, consistently since the end of World War II, never turning into a military power but an economic power, its principle of resolving all matters by peaceful means, without recourse through the use of force," he added.

Shortly after making the address, it was announced that the Prime Minister would meet President Hu Jintao of China tomorrow in Jakarta.

Massive anti-Japanese protests erupted in several Chinese cities earlier this month after Tokyo approved a new history textbook that critics claim plays down wartime Japanese offences, including mass sex slavery and germ warfare.

Mr Koizumi’s speech did not go further than apologies made by previous Japanese leaders, but its timing was an explicit attempt to ease the row with China over Tokyo’s handling of its wartime atrocities and its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

But Zha Peixin, the Chinese Ambassador in London, called for the Japan to go further than the apology. "I think what the Japanese should do is tell the true facts to their students so that historical lessons can be learned and tragedies will not be repeated again," told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Mr Koizumi’s attempts at placating China were almost derailed today by 80 parliamentarians from his own party who visited a Tokyo shrine honouring executed Second World War criminals as well as the 2.5 million Japanese who died during the six-year conflict.

China expressed "strong dissatisfaction" about the visit by the politicians and the representatives of a further 88 MPs to the shrine.

"As Sino-Japanese relations are facing a serious situation, we express our strong dissatisfaction over the negative actions of some Japanese politicians who ignore the larger interests," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Today’s visit by the politicians to the shrine were part of an annual springtime ritual. A spokesman for the group said they were honouring the dead and praying for peace and did not mean to anger China or South Korea, both victims of Japanese military aggression.

Since becoming prime minister in 2001, Mr Koizumi has also made annual visits to the shrine.

Meanwhile, China has shut down several anti-Japanese websites to prevent the organisation of further protests, indicating that the government fears the demonstrations will get out of hand.

The websites had carried messages calling for large-scale demonstrations on May 1 and May 4 in Shanghai, Nanjing, Wenzhou and Chongqing.

May 1 is Labour Day in China, while May 4 is the anniversary of the landmark 1919 May Fourth Movement, in which students led protests against the country’s weakness in standing up to foreign countries, especially Japan.

Explore World News

• World Agenda

• Iraq News

• US & Americas News

• Europe News

• Middle East News

• Afghanistan News

• Asia News

• Africa News

• Ireland News

Times Recommends

• Henning Mankell: ‘If Wallander was alive, I wouldn’t be a friend of his’
• Secret society's skull and crossbones for sale
• Nigerian leader vanishes after medical treatment