Tokyo - Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is more popular than the opposition despite the resignation of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, a telephone survey showed Wednesday.

According to the country-wide poll conducted by the Kyodo news agency, 38.5 per cent planned to vote for the LDP in the next election. The Democratic Party of Japan (DJP), the country's largest opposition party, would receive 34.9 per cent popular support.

Japan's voters regard LDP Secretary General Taro Aso the most suitable successor for outgoing premier Fukuda. The

Tokyo - Producers of Japan's manga comic books are rejoicing over the political hubbub after the surprise resignation of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, a Japanese business daily said Wednesday.

Shares of animation companies shot up since former foreign minister Taro Aso, an avid fan of manga, is touted as the most likely candidate to succeed Fukuda at the helm of the Liberal Democratic Party and as prime minister.

Tokyo - Tokyo stocks opened higher Wednesda

Beijing - China on Tuesday praised the "great contribution" to improving bilateral relations by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who resigned on Monday.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Fukuda's resignation was an "internal affair of Japan" but said ties had improved significantly between the two nations during his 11 months in office.

"Recently, through the joint efforts of two governments and people from all circles, China-Japan relations have witnessed good development, with deepening strategic cooperative relations," Jiang told reporters.

"The prime minister (Fukuda) has made a great contribution to it," she said. "We think highly of him."

Tokyo - Japanese automaker Hino Motors Ltd and major trading company Marubeni Corp announced a joint venture Tuesday to sell vehicles in India.