Chinese President Hu Jintao was welcomed warmly in Tokyo by Japanese officials and Chinese well-wishers as he began his state visit aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Despite disagreements over energy resources and security, Hu emphasized the importance of building trust between China and Japan. Increased security measures were in place to prevent protests by right-wing activists who view China as a threat. China is working to improve its image as a friendly neighbor and move past historical conflicts with Japan. Hu's visit includes ceremonial events, speeches, and potential agreements, as well as activities like table tennis and the possibility of receiving pandas. This visit comes as China works to ease tensions related to Tibetan unrest ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing. Hu emphasized the importance of strong ties between China and Japan for the prosperity of both countries, stating that cooperation has brought real benefits to their people and has contributed to their growth and development. He expressed his hope for lasting friendship between the people of both nations and highlighted the significance of the Beijing Games as not only Asia's Olympics but also the world's Olympics. There is a lot at stake in the relationship between Asia's two largest economies. China has surpassed the United States as Japan's top trade partner, with trade between the two countries reaching $236.6 billion last year, an increase of 12 percent from 2006. While China's rapid growth presents opportunities, Japan is also concerned about Beijing's growing diplomatic and military influence, particularly in relation to disputed energy resources, military strength, and the safety of Chinese exports. There is a sense that although progress has been made in the relationship between China and Japan, more efforts are needed from both sides to fully improve relations. The highlight of Hu's visit is expected to be a summit with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, during which they aim to establish a joint plan for managing their relationship in the future. However, it was uncertain whether the declarations of friendship would resolve disagreements or simply cover them with positive words. According to Japanese media reports, sensitive topics such as Taiwan, human rights, and Japan's desire for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council were still being discussed. Additionally, the two countries are in dispute over the rights to gas reserves in the East China Sea, and a recent incident involving Chinese-made dumplings contaminated with pesticide has been seen as a symbol of Japan's concerns about China's growing influence. Both countries had hoped for progress in the gas dispute before Chinese President Hu's visit, but a quick resolution seems unlikely. Japan is also seeking more transparency regarding China's increasing defense budget, which stood at 418 billion yuan ($60 billion) in 2008, a 17.6 percent rise from the previous year and surpassing Japan's own defense budget. Foreign analysts believe that China's actual military budget exceeds what is officially reported. Tokyo is seeking China's support for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a contentious issue that sparked anti-Japanese demonstrations in China in 2005 due to lingering resentment over Japan's occupation from 1931 to 1945. The Chinese-controlled Hong Kong newspaper Ta Kung Pao suggested that Chinese President Hu Jintao was unlikely to meet Japanese expectations during his visit. The paper mentioned several sensitive issues, including the gas dispute and the Security Council matter, that may be difficult to resolve at this time. However, it's possible that some general agreements could be reached. China has been urging Japan to clarify its position on Taiwan, urging the self-governing island to accept reunification with Beijing. Japan has expressed its support for "one China" which includes Taiwan, despite Taiwan's historical ties to Japan. Both countries are focusing on promoting goodwill and will release a joint document on combating climate change, a significant issue for Japan as the host of the upcoming G8 summit. During his visit, Hu may speak to university students, play table tennis with Fukuda, and potentially offer Japan a panda to replace one that recently passed away in a Tokyo zoo.