Chinese President Hu Jintao praised the growing cooperation between China and Japan during his state visit to Japan, offering a pair of pandas as a symbol of friendship. His visit aims to build trust between the two countries, amidst international concerns over Tibetan unrest potentially affecting the Beijing Olympics. While Hu received a warm welcome from Japanese officials and supporters, peaceful protests advocating for human rights in Tibet took place in the capital. Despite concerns over potential clashes, the presence of 7,000 police ensured that the protests remained peaceful. China is aiming to present itself as a friendly neighbor to Japan after years of disagreement regarding Japan's handling of its wartime past. Hu emphasized the importance of stable and friendly relations between the two countries, noting their increasingly interconnected economies. Upon arriving in Tokyo, he expressed optimism about the potential for further development in the relationship and emphasized the importance of building mutual trust and strengthening friendship. As a goodwill gesture, Hu offered to gift Japan two pandas for research purposes, a move that could help improve public opinion in Japan following the recent death of a popular panda at a Tokyo zoo. He extended the offer during a casual dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at a Tokyo restaurant with historical connections to Sun Yat-sen, known as the "founder" of modern China. China surpassed the United States as Japan's top trading partner last year, with total trade amounting to $236.6 billion, a 12 percent increase from 2006. The Chinese ambassador to Japan, Cui Tiankai, highlighted the potential for increased cooperation between China and Japan to address various regional and global challenges in a recent interview on Chinese state TV. However, Japan is also concerned about Beijing's growing diplomatic and military influence, particularly in relation to disputed energy resources, military capabilities, and the safety of Chinese exports. Despite some improvements in relations, building a strong and lasting partnership between China and Japan will require continued efforts from both countries, as noted by a commentator in China's People's Daily. Hu's visit will reach a political climax with a summit on Wednesday with Fukuda, during which they plan to reveal a blueprint for managing future relations. Beijing and Tokyo aim to avoid a repeat of Jiang Zemin's visit to Japan ten years ago, which created tension when he criticized Japan's past invasion and occupation of China. Relations between China and Japan were strained during Junichiro Koizumi's term as prime minister due to his visits to the Yasukuni war shrine, but tensions have eased since then. Negotiations are ongoing regarding touchy topics in a joint document, such as Taiwan, human rights, and Japan's desire for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. The two countries are also in dispute over rights to gas deposits in the East China Sea, and a recent incident involving Chinese-made dumplings containing pesticide has become a symbol of Japanese concerns about China's growing influence. Japan is seeking more transparency regarding China's increasing defense spending, which reached 418 billion yuan in 2008, a 17.6 percent increase from the previous year. Critics believe China's actual military budget is higher than reported. Japan is also seeking Chinese support for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a topic that has caused tensions in the past due to historical grievances. China, on the other hand, is urging Japan to clarify its stance on Taiwan, which Beijing insists must reunite with the mainland. Tokyo has expressed its endorsement of a "one China" policy that encompasses Taiwan, a former Japanese colony until 1945 with strong connections to Japan. While major progress on specific disagreements is not anticipated, both sides are eager to emphasize a positive and forward-looking relationship. They are set to release a joint statement on combating climate change, a significant issue for Japan as the host of the upcoming July G8 summit. President Hu is scheduled to address students at Waseda University in Tokyo and may engage in a friendly game of ping-pong with Prime Minister Fukuda.