China on Tuesday called for Japan to stick to its "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and take a responsible attitude to safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a question concerning the suggestion by some Japanese politicians that Japan should develop its nuclear weapons, following the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"We hope Japan, as a signatory of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, will strictly carry out its obligations and stick to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles," Liu said.

The principles, approved in 1971, state that Japan will not produce, possess or allow nuclear weapons on its territory.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last Tuesday that Japan would stick to its "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" and was not planning to possess nuclear weapons.