Chinese President Hu Jintao praised the increased collaboration between China and Japan during his state visit to Japan, offering a pair of pandas as a gesture of goodwill. This visit aims to strengthen trust between the two cautious Asian nations. Hu's arrival comes at a time when China is working to address global worries about unrest in Tibet, which could potentially impact the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. Hu was warmly welcomed by Japanese officials and well-wishers at the airport, although more than 1,000 peaceful protesters in Tokyo called for human rights in Tibet. Police presence was heightened to prevent any clashes with right-wing activists expressing anti-China sentiments, but no incidents were reported. China wants to improve its image as a friendly neighbor following years of disputes with Japan over its handling of wartime aggression. Hu, who has emphasized looking towards the future during his five days of meetings and ceremonies, stated that stable and friendly relations are beneficial for both countries, as their economies are becoming more interconnected. Upon arriving in Tokyo, he expressed that there are new opportunities for the two countries to further develop their relationship. Hu also expressed his hope to build mutual trust and strengthen friendship through his visit. As a gesture of goodwill towards Japan, Hu offered to provide two pandas for research purposes, which may help win over the Japanese public, especially after the recent death of the popular Ling Ling panda at a Tokyo zoo. During a casual dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at a Tokyo restaurant with ties to Sun Yat-sen, the "father" of modern China, an offer was made. China has overtaken the United States as Japan's top trading partner, with trade totaling $236.6 billion in 2007, a 12 percent increase from the previous year. The Chinese ambassador to Japan, Cui Tiankai, emphasized the importance of coordination and cooperation between China and Japan to address various challenges. However, Japan is also concerned about China's growing diplomatic and military influence, particularly regarding disputed energy resources, military strength, and the safety of Chinese exports. While relations between the two countries have improved, further efforts are needed to fully strengthen their ties. The highlight of Hu's visit is expected to be a summit with Fukuda on Wednesday, during which they plan to reveal a plan for managing future relations. Beijing and Tokyo are eager to prevent a repeat of Jiang Zemin's visit to Japan ten years ago, which soured relations due to his criticism of Japan's past actions. Sino-Japanese relations became strained during Koizumi's time as prime minister from 2001 to 2006, but tensions have since eased. Negotiations are ongoing regarding touchy subjects in the joint document such as Taiwan, human rights, and Japan's desire for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Disputes over gas reserves in the East China Sea and the issue of Chinese-made dumplings tainted with pesticide, which caused illness, have also contributed to tensions between the two countries. Japan is calling for 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. Critics believe China's actual military budget is even higher. In return, Japan is seeking China's support for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, a contentious issue that has caused tensions between the two countries in the past. Additionally, China is urging Japan to clarify its position on Taiwan, a topic that Beijing believes must be addressed for reunification to occur. Tokyo has expressed its backing for a "one China" policy that acknowledges Taiwan, a former Japanese colony until 1945 that still maintains strong connections with Japan. While major progress on specific disagreements is not anticipated, both parties are eager to emphasize a positive outlook and plan to release a joint statement on combating climate change, an important issue for Japan as the host of the upcoming July G8 summit. Hu is scheduled to address students at Waseda University in Tokyo and might relax by playing ping-pong with Fukuda.