China's Hu ends Japan stay with temple visits

By Chris Buckley

NARA, Japan, May 10 (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao paid his respects at Buddhist temples on the last day of a visit to Japan on Saturday, adding a pointedly religious note to a trip aimed at cementing warmer ties between the Asian rivals.

Hu's five-day state visit, the first to Japan by a Chinese leader in a decade, was intended both to ease strains with Japan over energy, security and wartime history and quell international pressure over unrest and a subsequent crackdown in Tibet.

On the day of his return to Beijing, Hu visited Japan's ancient capital of Nara, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of Tokyo, and paid his respects at two Buddhist temples before heading off to meet regional officials and visit the headquarters of Japanese electronics maker Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

"I believe that the trip has resulted in achievements," Kyodo news agency quoted Hu as telling Nara Governor Shogo Arai. "I think this will greatly promote bilateral ties in the future."

The Chinese President, who also serves as chief of the country's officially atheist Communist Party, bowed in respect before a statue of a Chinese Buddhist monk in Toshodaiji temple, an official of the temple told a group of reporters.

At a time when China has faced widespread criticism over its controls in Tibet from exiled Tibetans and Western human rights groups, Hu's temple visit appeared intended to deflect criticism that his government is hostile to religion.

The two temples both said they have been receiving protest calls from Tibet supporters complaining about Hu's visit, and security was tight in Nara, as it was for his entire stay.

Outside Toshodaiji temple, a cluster of about 50 protesters denouncing Chinese rule in Tibet shouted "Free Tibet". One of the protesters was taken away by police after he tried to unfurl a Tibetan flag in front of the temple before Hu's arrival.