Chinese President Hu Jintao praised increased collaboration with Japan upon his arrival on Tuesday for a state visit aimed at building trust between the two countries despite disagreements over energy resources and security issues. Hu was welcomed in Tokyo by Japanese officials and Chinese supporters, while downtown, a large police presence was deployed in anticipation of protests by right-wing activists wary of China. Despite past conflicts over Japan's wartime actions, China is presenting itself as a friendly neighbor, with Hu emphasizing positive objectives for his five-day visit, including diplomatic discussions, agreements, and cultural exchanges such as table tennis and the potential loan of pandas. The visit, only the second of its kind from China to Japan, comes at a time when China is working to ease global concerns over unrest in Tibet, which could impact the image of Beijing's upcoming Olympic Games. Hu emphasized the importance of strong ties between China and Japan for the prosperity of both countries, expressing his hope for continued friendship between the two nations. He highlighted the benefits of cooperation between the two countries and the positive impact it has had on their growth and development. Hu also referred to the Beijing Games as not only Asia's Olympics, but also the Olympics of the world. The relationship between Asia's two largest economies, China and Japan, is crucial. China overtook the United States as Japan's top trading partner, with a trade value of $236.6 billion in 2007, showing a 12 percent increase from 2006. While China's rapid growth presents opportunities, Japan is concerned about Beijing's expanding influence in diplomacy and military capabilities, especially regarding energy resources, military strength, and the safety of Chinese exports. Both countries need to make further efforts to improve their relationship, as stated by a commentator in China's People's Daily. The highlight of President Hu's visit is expected to be a summit with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, where they aim to present a joint plan for managing their relationship in the future. It was uncertain whether the declarations of friendship would help resolve disagreements or just cover them with pleasant words. Reports from Japanese media indicated that sensitive topics in the agreement, such as Taiwan, human rights, and Japan's desire for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, were still being discussed. The two countries are also in dispute over gas reserves in the East China Sea, and a recent incident involving pesticide-contaminated dumplings has highlighted Japanese concerns about China's growing influence. Both sides had hoped for progress on the gas issue before Hu's visit, but a quick resolution appears unlikely. Japan is also seeking more transparency regarding China's increasing defense spending, which reached 418 billion yuan ($60 billion) in 2008, a 17.6 percent increase from the previous year and surpassing Japan's defense budget. Foreign critics claim that China's actual military budget is significantly higher. Tokyo is seeking Chinese support for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a matter that sparked anti-Japanese demonstrations in China in 2005 due to lingering resentment over Japan's brutal occupation from 1931 to 1945. A Hong Kong newspaper controlled by mainland China, the Ta Kung Pao, suggested that Hu was unlikely to meet Japanese expectations. The paper mentioned sensitive issues like the gas dispute and the Security Council matter that may be challenging to resolve during the visit. It stated that while the timing might not be right for a resolution, some general agreements could potentially be reached. China has urged Japan to clarify its position on Taiwan, which Beijing believes should reunite with the mainland. Japan has stated its support for a unified China that includes Taiwan, a former Japanese colony with strong ties to Japan. Despite their differences, both countries are focused on promoting positive relations and will release a joint document on combating climate change, a priority for Japan as the host of the upcoming G8 summit. Chinese President Hu Jintao will address university students in Tokyo, potentially engage in a game of table tennis with Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, and may also offer Japan a panda as a replacement for one that recently passed away in a Tokyo zoo.