BEIJING - Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Thursday voiced stern concern over bills that will expand the role of Japan's self-defense forces (SDF).

Yang made clear China's stance on the issue and urged the Japanese side to earnestly draw lessons from history, stick to the route of peaceful development, respect the major security concerns of its neighbors and not to do any thing unconducive to regional peace and stability.

Yang made the remarks as he co-chaired the first China-Japan high-level political dialogue in Beijing with Yachi Shotaro, head of the Japanese national security council.

Yang pointed out that in the international circumstances of seeking peace, development, cooperation and win-win collaboration, the Japanese side runs against the tide of the times and the general trend of the world by accelerating the build-up of its military muscles and significantly changing its military security policy.

"(This move) cannot but raise concern and questions from neighboring countries and the rest of the international community on whether Japan will abolish its pacifist posture," Yang said.

Yang said due to historical reasons, Japan's military and security developments have been closely watched by its neighbors and the international community at large.

He said Japan had made "an unprecedented move" in military and security areas when the lower house of Japan's parliament passed the new security bills.

Yang emphasized that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascists War.

"At a time when people are remembering history and hoping for peace, we solemnly urge Japan to draw lessons from history and stick to the path of peaceful development," Yang said.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also voiced similar concern and made clear China's stance on this issue.

Calling Japan-China relations as "very important", Shotaro Yachi said Japan-China ties had improved following the meeting between both leaders during the APEC summit in Beijing last year.

Japan expects to see further improvement of bilateral ties, he said.

Japan is committed to fulfilling the consensus with China which acknowledges both countries are cooperation partners and pose no threat to each other, he said.

Shotaro Yachi told Yang his China visit aims to exchange views with China on the development of bilateral ties, adding Japan hopes to maintain political dialogue with China and keep the momentum for improving ties.