Guards of honor take part in the military parade rehearsal on Chang'an Avenue in Beijing on Sunday morning. Li Gang / Xinhua

BEIJING - A senior Chinese diplomat said China "has taken notice" that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is unable to attend Beijing-based commemorations on Sept 3 marking victory in World War II, and the events "are not targeting any specific country".

Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Ming made the comments at a Tuesday news conference held by the State Council Information Office on the events.

"We have taken notice that the Japanese side said Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe was unable to attend the Sept 3 commemorative activities because of 'parliamentary affairs'," Zhang said.

The diplomat noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World's Anti-Fascist War, and the events are being held by the Chinese government in order to "remember history, recall the martyrs, cherish peace and open up to the future".

"We have stated several times that the events do not target any specific country, do not target today's Japan, not to mention the Japanese people, and it has no direct relevance to the current China-Japan relationship," Zhang said.

China "has always subscribed to and will continue to stick to improving and developing the China-Japan relationship on the basis of the four China-Japan political documents", Zhang said.