BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China hopes Japan will play a positive role in developing bilateral ties by properly dealing with sensitive issues, State Councilor Yang Jiechi said Tuesday.

Speaking in Beijing, Yang told a group of young Japanese politicians that Japan should honestly engage in a spirit whereby "China and Japan are partners that do not impose a threat to each other."

He called on Japan to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China and promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.

China has always stood for deepening bilateral relations on the basis of the "four political documents" and the "four-point principled agreement" reached by both sides, said Yang.

The Japanese delegation was led by Kiyohiko Toyama, a member of the New Komeito Party.