Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has written a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao in which he proposes that the two leaders meet.

New Komeito party chief Takenori Kanzaki said Monday that he would deliver the letter to Hu later this week.

Kanzaki will meet with Hu and other Chinese officials during a three-day visit to China starting Tuesday. New Komeito is the coalition partner of Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party.

In the letter, Koizumi says he wants to "frankly exchange opinions in the near future" with Hu, with whom he has been unable to exchange visits due to Beijing's displeasure over Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

Koizumi also writes of his "respect" for the Chinese leadership, which was inaugurated in March, and his hope that both countries will participate in broad exchanges.

Kanzaki said Koizumi asked him to discuss relations with China because New Komeito has put emphasis on Japan-China ties.

Koizumi met twice last year with Hu -- but only in places other than their respective countries; the pair met in May in St. Petersburg and in October in Bangkok.

Koizumi has visited the Shinto shrine every year since becoming prime minister in April 2001. His last visit was on Jan. 1.

The shrine, regarded by critics as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, honors the nation's war dead, along with convicted war criminals.

Kanzaki will also meet Song Jian, chairman of the China-Japan Friendship Association.