The leaders of China and South Korea on Saturday visited Fukushima City, not far from Japan's damaged nuclear power station, to show their support for the nation's reconstruction efforts, reported DPA.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak joined Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Fukushima city, 60 kilometres north-west of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station.
The plant has released radioactive substances since being crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
It was the first time foreign leaders visited the Fukushima prefecture since the start of the nuclear crisis.
"I came to Fukushima to pay a visit so that I can express the wishes and support of the Chinese people to the Japanese people. It was good that I could see the spirits of solidarity and determination demonstrated after the disaster," Wen said.
Before visiting Fukushima, Wen and Lee went to Natori city, in the Miyagi prefecture, and offered flowers for those who died in the disaster. They also met people in emergency shelters who had lost their homes.
"My heart is filled with sorrow," Wen was quoted by Jiji Press as saying after observing a moment of silence in front of a collapsed building.
"I believe that Japan can recover from the disaster with support from the international community," he said.
Lee was also quoted by Jiji as saying that "each and every citizen in my country is worried" about the situation in the disaster-hit areas.
"I want to convey the feelings of South Korean citizens" to disaster victims," Lee said.
Wen said China was ready to ease restrictions on imports of agricultural products from Japan once their safety is ensured.
China, Japan's top trade partner, decided in April to halt imports of all food and farm products due to mounting concerns about radiation contamination.
The three leaders later travelled to Tokyo for planned trilateral talks on regional and international issues.
The March disaster left more than 15,000 people dead. Some 9,000 are still missing