"We are very happy to see that the Chinese team and Japanese team both made it to the final with outstanding performances," said foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan.

"We hope the Chinese and Japanese football fans will enjoy a wonderful match ... with good behaviour."

While Japan has been loudly heckled and jeered by Chinese fans throughout the tournament, prompting the Asian Football Confederation to seek assurances about security, Kong denied there were any problems.

"According to the information received, the four matches that the Japanese team played so far were well-ordered and had a warm atmosphere," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

"It is known to all that extreme behaviour of a few football fans are frequently witnessed at key international football matches. We don't agree with those behaviours."

And he said it was "regrettable that some Japanese media focused too much and played up on those behaviours and even connected them with politics.

"We believe that improving China-Japan communication including sports exchanges will help promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples," he said.

China Football Association spokesman Dong Hua urged the players and fans to respect each other.

"We ask our players three things -- they must respect the referee, respect their opponent and respect the crowd," he told AFP.

"As far as the players are concerned this is all about football. This is the Asian Cup and this is the final.

"The players are not thinking about these things (politics and Japan's war-time atrocities).

The two teams take the field at the Workers' Stadium in Beijing on Saturday.

Many Chinese people believe Japan has never fully faced up to its wartime past and its brutal occupation of China before and during World War II.