Japan and China need to establish a ?strategic partnership based on equality?, according to the policy chief of Japan?s ruling Liberal Democratic party, acknowledging that Tokyo could no longer afford to treat China as an upstart power.

Hidenao Nakagawa, who is expected to be an important figure in any future cabinet led by Shinzo Abe, the frontrunner to replace Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister in September, told the Financial Times: ?There is no precedent in Asia for two big countries to have a strategic partnership based on equality. We want to establish such a strategic partnership with China. That?s what we?re aiming for.?