TOKYO - Japan is willing to improve its ties with China and the relationship with China remains one of Japan's most important bilateral ties, a Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Monday.

Spokesperson Kuni Sato made the remarks on August 12, the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Japanese Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1978, saying that to follow the treaty serves both countries'interests as well as regional and international interests.

The treaty came after the normalization of bilateral ties between China and Japan in 1972, affirming the principles in the China-Japan Joint Statement inked in 1972.

However, relations between China and Japan soured recently due to Japan's unilateral steps on disputed islands with China and repeated improper remarks by some ?right-wing politicians on history.

Sato said that he hopes that particular problems between Japan and China would not affect the entire bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, Hong Lei, spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said Monday that the peace treaty should be commemorated and followed well, adding long-term, stable and friendly relations between the two neighbors serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples.