BEIJING -- China hopes Japan would continue to develop in the peaceful way, said Liu Jianchao, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Tuesday.

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He made the remarks when commenting on the upgrade of the Japanese Defense Agency to a full ministry on Tuesday morning. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appointed Fumio Kyuma as new Defense Minister.

"We hope whatever changes that has taken place in the structure of the Japanese government could it continue to develop along the way of the peaceful development," he said.

This is in conformity with the fundamental interest of Japan itself, and benefits regional peace and development, Liu added.