Chinese president meets Japanese emperor

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-07-2008 13:13

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao has held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in Toyko. The talks focused on furthering strategic and mutually beneficial relations between the two countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with Japanese Emperor Akihito (R) in Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Earlier on Wednesday, President Hu met with Japanese Emperor Akihito, who hosted a welcome ceremony for the Chinese leader.

President Hu arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday for a state visit aimed at boosting bilateral relations. This is the first visit by a Chinese head of state to Japan in a decade.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd L) and his wife Liu Yongqing (1st L) pose for photos with Japanese Emperor Akihito (3rd L) and Japanese Empress Michiko (2nd R) in Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2008. (Xinhua Photo)

Hu's trip to Japan is seen as a step to further improve the once-chilly relationship between the two neighbors, which started to warm with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "ice-breaking" visit to China two years ago. The event was followed by the "ice-thawing" Japan trip by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao last April and Fukuda's "spring-herald" visit to China last December.