TOKYO, October 8, 2010 (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday that the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo sent a message to Beijing over its handling of human rights.

Kan told reporters that by giving Liu its most prestigious award on Friday, the Norwegian Nobel committee showed the importance of human rights, "which are universally worthwhile," according to Jiji Press.

Asked if he expected Liu's winning of the prize to lead to a change in China's stance on human rights, Kan said: "The Nobel committee awarded the prize to him, taking such a message into consideration."

Chinese authorities convicted Liu of subversion last year and jailed him for 11 years after he co-wrote a manifesto for democratic reforms in China.

Japan and China's relations have suffered from a month-long row triggered by the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain whose vessel collided with two Japanese coastguard ships in disputed waters in the East China Sea.