Thursday May 8, 2008

China's Hu turns to table tennis diplomacy in Japan

By Chris Buckley

TOKYO (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao's campaign to woo a wary Japan shifts from the summit podium to ballet dancers, university students and perhaps a ping-pong table on Thursday for a day of diplomatic theatre.

China's President Hu Jintao (L) and Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda smile after holding a joint news conference in Tokyo May 7, 2008. Hu's campaign to woo a wary Japan shifts from the summit podium to ballet dancers, university students and perhaps a ping-pong table on Thursday for a day of diplomatic theatre. (REUTERS/Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool)

In the middle of a five-day state visit, the Chinese leader is seeking to build goodwill after his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, when they agreed to focus on cooperation after years of rancour over Japanese wartime aggression.

Hu and Fukuda said they were on track to settle a volatile feud over undersea gas. But Chinese officials have said their main hope from Hu's visit is to reduce broader antagonism rather than seal deals.

To judge from some Japanese media, Hu may have eased some worries about his country's economic rise, military ambitions, growing exports and tainted dumplings -- but still has far to go.

"More than anything, the fact that pragmatism was placed in the forefront by both leaders, Fukuda and Hu, is the significance of this summit," the Asahi newspaper said in an editorial.

"But no matter how many beautiful words are lined up, what is important is whether or not these are reflected in real policies. If one looks at the problems between the two countries, this will not be easy," the paper said.

The latest stage of Hu's trip, which lasts until Saturday, began with breakfast with former Japanese prime ministers. One face missing was Junichiro Koizumi, who enraged Beijing by visiting Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, seen by many of Japan's neighbours as an unapologetic symbol of militarism. A Japanese government source told Reuters the decision to stay away was Koizumi's own.

"The former prime ministers present here have contributed greatly to promote Japan-China ties and have placed importance on friendship between China and Japan while in office and also after they left office," Hu said at the breakfast meeting. "I welcome this fully."

Hu was later to visit a ballet troupe with links to China, speak to students at Tokyo's Waseda University and attend a ping-pong display with popular players from both countries.

Chinese and Japanese reports have said Hu, a regular player, may even coax Fukuda, 71, to pick up a paddle.

China's campaign to charm Japan comes after years of diplomatic cold shoulder and sometimes violent anti-Japan protests in 2005.

On Thursday, China's state media were dominated by upbeat words for Hu's trip and for Japan.

Calling Hu's trip the "journey of a warm spring", the People's Daily said China could learn from its neighbour.

"In social development, Japan can provide some experiences and models to draw on," said a commentary on the front page of the paper's overseas edition.

(Additional reporting by Chisa Fujioka, Yoko Kubota and Linda Sieg)

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