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China PM visits city of Kyoto China PM visits city of Kyoto
(about 5 hours later)
Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao has made a visit to the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto as part of a trip to improve ties between the two countries. Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao wrapped up his landmark three-day visit to Japan with a trip to the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto.
After a formal address to parliament on Thursday, the rest of Mr Wen's schedule is noticably lighter, including a farm visit and a game of baseball. After a formal address to parliament on Thursday, the rest of Mr Wen's schedule was noticably lighter, including a farm visit and a game of baseball.
Mr Wen is the first Chinese leader to visit Japan since 2000.Mr Wen is the first Chinese leader to visit Japan since 2000.
His trip is an attempt to build on a fragile detente after a visit to China by Japan's prime minister in October. His trip was an attempt to build on a fragile detente after a visit to China by Japan's prime minister in October.
'Home run''Home run'
Mr Wen took part in a tea ceremony in Kyoto - one of the country's most beautiful cities. Later he is expected to pit himself against some students for a game of baseball. Mr Wen took part in a tea ceremony in Kyoto - one of the country's most beautiful cities.
"Baseball is a very popular sport among Japanese people, especially young people," Mr Wen's spokesman Liu Jianchao said. He then pit himself against some students in a game of baseball.
"I hope that if he's batting, it's a home run," he added. "I loved baseball as a child. I wanted to play baseball if I came to Japan," he said, sporting a jersey with the number 35 to represent the number of years the two countries have had bilateral relations.
The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says Japanese officials are convinced that the three-day tour has been a success.The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says Japanese officials are convinced that the three-day tour has been a success.
The tone of Mr Wen's addresses has seemed different from what the Japanese are used to hearing from Chinese leaders, he says.The tone of Mr Wen's addresses has seemed different from what the Japanese are used to hearing from Chinese leaders, he says.
Mr Wen delivered a message of friendship, collaboration and co-operation to Japan's parliament, or Diet, on Thursday, but asked the government to match its apologies over its World War II with concrete action.Mr Wen delivered a message of friendship, collaboration and co-operation to Japan's parliament, or Diet, on Thursday, but asked the government to match its apologies over its World War II with concrete action.
However, he said that just a few militarist leaders were to blame and that most Japanese people were also war victims.However, he said that just a few militarist leaders were to blame and that most Japanese people were also war victims.
AtonementAtonement
Japan and China have been at odds in recent years over Japan's World War II aggression, and China has often accused Japan of not fully atoning for its actions.Japan and China have been at odds in recent years over Japan's World War II aggression, and China has often accused Japan of not fully atoning for its actions.
KEY ISSUES History: Japan's neighbours often think it has not done enough to atone for wartime atrocitiesTrade: Bilateral trade is growing stronglyNorth Korea: Japan often takes a tougher stance than China over the nuclear issueEast China Sea: Beijing and Tokyo disagree over the boundary between their exclusive economic zonesSecurity: Japan wants to revise is pacifist constitution, which concerns China. China's military expansion concerns Japan Chinese press reacts to visit Have Your Say: New dawn?KEY ISSUES History: Japan's neighbours often think it has not done enough to atone for wartime atrocitiesTrade: Bilateral trade is growing stronglyNorth Korea: Japan often takes a tougher stance than China over the nuclear issueEast China Sea: Beijing and Tokyo disagree over the boundary between their exclusive economic zonesSecurity: Japan wants to revise is pacifist constitution, which concerns China. China's military expansion concerns Japan Chinese press reacts to visit Have Your Say: New dawn?
Our correspondent says some commentators in Japan have interpreted that as a warning to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to visit the Yasukuni shrine honouring its war dead, which the Chinese believe glorifies militarism.Our correspondent says some commentators in Japan have interpreted that as a warning to Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to visit the Yasukuni shrine honouring its war dead, which the Chinese believe glorifies militarism.
The last Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the shrine many times as leader - prompting the Chinese to refuse to hold bilateral meetings with him.The last Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the shrine many times as leader - prompting the Chinese to refuse to hold bilateral meetings with him.
Mr Wen said that "to reflect on history is not to dwell on hard feelings, but to remember and learn from the past to open a better future".Mr Wen said that "to reflect on history is not to dwell on hard feelings, but to remember and learn from the past to open a better future".
But several difficult issues remain, including the dispute over who owns oil and gas reserves buried under the East China Sea.But several difficult issues remain, including the dispute over who owns oil and gas reserves buried under the East China Sea.
Japan accuses China of being secretive about its rapidly growing defence budget, while Beijing is wary of plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution to make it easier to deploy troops.Japan accuses China of being secretive about its rapidly growing defence budget, while Beijing is wary of plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution to make it easier to deploy troops.