Former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura has become head of the parliamentarians league for Japan-China friendship, league members said.
Komura is an advocate of reviewing Japan's official development assistance for China, a stance that had caused some to oppose his nomination. But his appointment was approved unanimously at the nonpartisan group's general meeting Thursday.
"Japan-China relations are among the most important bilateral relations, as well as Japan-U.S. relations," Komura said during his acceptance speech. "I would like to help create an environment in which the government is able to carry out good diplomatic negotiations."
He replaces former Finance Minister Yoshiro Hayashi, who retired as a lawmaker last year.
Komura, a House of Representatives lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is head of an LDP working team on reforming ODA.