BEIJING (Kyodo) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday criticized Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine and said they were "unfortunate," trade minister Toshihiro Nikai told reporters after their meeting Wednesday.

The dialogue was the highest-level bilateral talks in more than five months. It was intended to help mend soured ties, which took another hit when Koizumi paid his annual visit to the Tokyo shrine in October.

"It is unfortunate that some (Japanese) leaders still are unable to correctly understand Sino-Japanese history," Nikai quoted Wen as saying.

"We should make use of the past as a mirror and move toward the future," Nikai further quoted the Chinese premier as saying.

Nikai said earlier in the day that he and his counterpart, Bo Xilai, managed to reach agreements on various issues, but, as expected, not on Yasukuni Shrine.