China's President Hu Jintao offered to loan Tokyo a pair of pandas May 6 on the first visit to Japan by a Chinese leader in 10 years, and called for the Asian giants to improve their often strained relations.

Hu and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, hoping to underscore the positive during his five-day stay, used pingpong and pandas to take the edge off contentious problems like border disputes, historical animosity and concerns over China's rule in Tibet.

"We stand at a new starting point," Hu said after his arrival May 6. "We must develop our strategic partnership."

Hu met Emperor Akihito on May 7 and then later took part in meetings with business leaders and the heads of the main political parties.

The trip is intended to build on warming relations after years of friction over disputed borders, Japan's treatment of its wartime invasion of China, anti-Japanese protests in China, and general Japanese unease over Beijing's rapidly growing diplomatic, military and economic power.

But the protests that have dogged China on the international stage ahead of the Olympic Games continued as hundreds of protesters marched against China's policy in Tibet and thousands of riot police were mobilized to ensure Hu's safety.

Hu is the first Chinese president to come to Tokyo since 1998.

The Foreign Ministry said China will agree in an expected joint statement on climate change to consider ways to help halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Both countries will also pledge to actively participate in U.N.-led talks on producing a new international agreement on climate change.