BEIJING, June 22 -- China on Thursday urged Japan to educate its children correctly to avoid further disturbance to China-Japan relations.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang made the remarks at a regular press conference.

It was reported that Japan's education ministry stated in a book of new curricular guidelines for elementary and secondary schools that China's Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea are "inherent" parts of Japanese territory.

In response to the move, Geng reaffirmed that the Diaoyu Island and adjacent islets have been Chinese territory since ancient times and China has firm resolve and determination to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.

"No matter what it does or says, the Japanese side cannot change the fact that the Diaoyu Islands belong to China," said Geng.

Geng urged the Japanese side to face up to history and reality, and to stop provocation.