Chinese nationals on behalf of the wartime Chinese forced laborers in Japan signs a deal with Mitubishi Materials in Beijing on June 1, 2016. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

China has urged Japan to properly deal with the issue of Chinese forced laborers in World War II.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks after Japanese firm Mitsubishi Materials offered to apologize and compensate over 3,700 Chinese victims.

"The forced recruitment and enslavement of labourers is a grave crime committed by the Japanese militarism during its invasion and colonial rule of other countries. China urges Japan to adopt a responsible attitude and properly handle the relevant issue of history."

Earlier on Wednesday, 3 Chinese nationals on behalf of the wartime Chinese forced laborers in Japan signed a deal with Mitubishi Materials in Beijing.

Each of the victims will get a compensation of 100 thousand yuan, or about 15 thousand U.S. dollars.

The company also pledged to continue to probe into those forced into labor during the war, but have not been officially accounted for in records.

At least 39 thousand Chinese people were forcibly brought to Japan between 1943 and 1945, and were forced into exceedingly hard labor.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan