TOKYO - A senior advisor to Japan's ruling party said Sunday that Japan should shelve the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands in accordance with the consensus with the Chinese side.

Hirohisa Fujii, 80, former Finance Minister and chief advisor to the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in his reelection bid, said in an interview with public broadcaster NHK that historical consensus and facts should be honored.

In terms of the Diaoyu Islands issue, "we should respect the proposal of 'shelving disputes' made by the late Chinese leaders Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping," he said.

The veteran politician added that young people in Japan should learn more about history and acknowledge basic facts, such as Japan has indeed colonized South Korea and launched an aggressive war against China in the past.

China and Japan have been embroiled in a bitter row over Japanese government's "purchase" of parts of the Diaoyu Islands and its "nationalization" plan.