Annan delivered his message to students at the University of Tokyo a day after addressing the issue with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has infuriated neighboring countries by visiting a war shrine.

"Recently, there are new tensions between Japan, China and South Korea. I think there are areas all the countries can say and make gestures to reassure and to put their past to rest and look forward to the future," Annan said in response to a student's question.

Speaking later at a news conference, Annan said it was up to the three countries to determine what those gestures should be.

"The countries in the region know each other. They are fully aware of what irritates or worries or provokes the other side," Annan said.

"They will have to assess the situation for themselves and determine what changes one has to make to a smooth relationship and to facilitate promotion of the potentially really dynamic region," he said.

Annan has already visited South Korea and heads on Friday to China on a five-nation tour of Asia.

Koizumi has gone five times since assuming office in 2001 to Yasukuni shrine, which honors 2.5 million Japanese war dead and 14 top war criminals.

China and South Korea, which were invaded by Japan in the 20th century, consider the shrine a symbol of militarism.

China has called off all top-level talks with Koizumi due to the dispute.

Japan has been pushing for a meeting between the two nations' foreign ministers when they attend the Asian Cooperation Dialogue forum in Qatar next week.

China is "still researching" the proposal, foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday in Beijing.

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