Abe sees World War One echoes in Japan-China tensions

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addresses a session at the annual meeting of the WEF in Davos January 22, 2014. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said Japan and China should avoid repeating the past mistakes of Britain and Germany, which fought in World War One despite strong economic ties, according to his main government spokesman in Tokyo.

Abe was speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.