Chinese President Hu Jintao praised the growing cooperation between China and Japan during his visit to Tokyo on Tuesday. As a friendly gesture, he offered a pair of pandas to Japan in an effort to build trust between the two nations. This state visit, only the second by a top Chinese leader, comes as China works to address international concerns over Tibetan unrest ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. Despite some peaceful protests in Tokyo calling for human rights in Tibet, the visit proceeded without any major incidents thanks to the deployment of 7,000 police officers. China aims to improve its image as a friendly neighbor, especially after years of conflict with Japan over its handling of wartime aggression. Hu, who has emphasized the importance of looking towards the future during his five days of meetings and ceremonies, highlighted the benefits of stable and friendly relations between the two countries, whose economies are increasingly interconnected. Upon his arrival in Tokyo, he expressed optimism about the potential for further development in the relationship and stated his desire to enhance mutual trust and strengthen friendship. As a goodwill gesture, Hu offered to gift Japan two pandas for research purposes, which may help to win over a skeptical Japanese public following the recent passing of popular panda Ling Ling at a Tokyo zoo. During an informal dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at a historic Tokyo restaurant linked to Sun Yat-sen, the "father" of modern China, an offer was made. China has become Japan's top trade partner, surpassing the United States last year with $236.6 billion in two-way trade. The Chinese ambassador to Japan, Cui Tiankai, emphasized the importance of cooperation between China and Japan in promoting regional economic integration and addressing international challenges. Despite the growing trade relationship, anxieties in Japan persist over Beijing's expanding diplomatic and military influence, as well as concerns about disputed energy resources and the safety of Chinese exports. A commentator in China's People's Daily noted that while the relationship between China and Japan has improved, further efforts from both sides are needed for fully warming relations. The highlight of Hu's visit is expected to be a summit with Fukuda on Wednesday, during which they plan to present a plan for managing their future relationship. Both Beijing and Tokyo want to avoid a repeat of Jiang Zemin's visit to Japan ten years ago, where tensions rose after he criticized Japan's past invasion and occupation of China. Relations between China and Japan became strained during Junichiro Koizumi's time as prime minister due to his visits to the Yasukuni war shrine, but have since improved. Negotiations are ongoing regarding sensitive issues such as Taiwan, human rights, Japan's desire for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, and disputes over gas reserves in the East China Sea. Additionally, a recent incident involving Chinese-made dumplings tainted with pesticide has become a symbolic issue of Japanese concerns about China's growing influence. Japan is 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. Critics believe that China's actual military budget is even higher. Tokyo is also hoping for Chinese support in obtaining a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a contentious issue that has fueled anti-Japanese sentiment in China due to lingering resentment over Japan's wartime occupation. China, in turn, is urging Japan to clarify its position on Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing insists must reunite with the mainland. Tokyo has expressed its backing for a "one China" policy that encompasses Taiwan, a former Japanese colony for half a century until 1945 and maintains strong connections with Japan. While major progress on particular issues is not anticipated, both parties are eager to emphasize positive intentions for the future and plan to release a collaborative document on combating climate change, an important subject for Japan as the host of the upcoming G8 summit in July. Hu is scheduled to address Japanese students at Waseda University in Tokyo and may also relax by playing ping-pong with Fukuda.