The southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has urged the Japanese and US governments to resolve issues related to US military bases in the prefecture ahead of the 50th anniversary of its reversion to Japan on May 15.

The request was part of a set of proposals Okinawa released on Saturday.

A similar document was compiled in 1971, when the Diet was discussing the Okinawa Reversion Agreement between Japan and the United States. The government of the Ryukyu Islands wanted to convey voices of the local people to the lawmakers.

The new document says the prefecture and the central government shared the goal of making Okinawa islands of peace at the time of the reversion, but 50 years later, the goal has still not been achieved.

It calls for more public awareness about the significance and importance of Okinawa's return.

The new proposals also urge the governments of Japan and the US to fundamentally review the status of forces agreement and scrap a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within the prefecture. Work is under way to move the base from an urban area to a less populated coastal region.

The proposals call on the central government to play an active role in the international community by helping ease tension and build confidence through diplomacy and dialogue.

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny plans to personally deliver the document to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the heads of both chambers of the Diet and the US ambassador to Japan in Tokyo.