Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong told a group of Japanese visitors Wednesday he believes the "unpleasant phase" of ties with Japan is over and the question now was how the two countries will further their relations, one of the Japanese visitors said.

Zeng also told members of the Japan-China Friendship Association, led by renowned artist Ikuo Hirayama, that while China is considering a visit to Japan by a Chinese leader, it is yet to determine the specifics of any proposed trip.