TOKYO, May 8 (UPI) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao, on his "warm spring" visit to Japan, Thursday assured his country's economic growth poses no threat to anyone.
Speaking at Tokyo's Waseda University, the Chinese leader sought to assure Japanese who view China's spectacular progress with concern, saying the two countries should see each other as partners and not rivals, Kyodo news service reported.
More than 100 activists and students assembled outside the university shouting "Free Tibet" and waved Tibetan flags to protest China's crackdown in Tibet. There were also dozens of Hu supporters at the site, the report said.
In the only major reference to Japan's militaristic past, which has been a source of friction in Sino-Japanese relations, Hu it "not only brought about enormous misfortune to the Chinese people but also greatly harmed the Japanese public." However, he added China isn't "for continuing ill feelings."
A joint statement issued Wednesday on the talks Hu had with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, showed the two focused more on the future.
Xinhua reported Hu's visit is seen as a step to further improve the once-chilly China-Japan relationship, Xinhua said.
