China sends Olympic warning to Dalai Lama

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao demanded Wednesday that the Dalai Lama not try to divide China, incite violence or harm the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing. But he said fledgling talks with representatives of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader would continue.

Hu, speaking at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, vowed that Beijing would keep up a recently begun dialogue with the Dalai Lama, though he offered veiled accusations the Dalai Lama is causing more problems than he is solving.

"We hope that the Dalai will express his sincerity through his acts," Hu said sternly. "We hope the Dalai will stop acting to separate the homeland, stop orchestrating the inciting of violent acts and stop undermining the Beijing Olympics, so as to create the conditions for further discussions. We hope that the contacts will have a positive result."

Representatives of the exiled Tibetan government met with Chinese officials earlier this month for the first time since 2006. The talks were prompted by a resurgence of violence in Tibet, which China has governed since the 1950s.

China says 22 people died in riots in Lhasa, Tibet, in March, while overseas Tibet supporters say many times that number died in protests and a subsequent crackdown.

Fukuda said he highly evaluated Hu's willingness to talk with the Dalai Lama's side. But he, too, had a warning.

"The Olympics must succeed," Fukuda said. "The world is watching. We hope the Chinese government and people realize this and that people will be able to watch the games with pleasure."

Fukuda said Beijing's hosting of the Olympics is much like Tokyo's hosting of the 1964 games, which he said marked Japan's emergence on the world stage after its defeat in World War II.

Fukuda, however, said he had not decided whether to attend the opening ceremony.

On bilateral matters, Hu, the first Chinese president to visit Japan since Jiang Zemin in 1998, stressed ties are at a "new starting point" after several years of chill.

In a morning summit, the two discussed climate change and other environmental issues, regional security and Japan's hopes that China will provide more transparency on military matters. Hu also met with Emperor Akihito.

Fukuda said the countries were on the verge of resolving a dispute over the exploitation of natural gas fields in the East China Sea. China is tapping the fields, but Japan says they should be jointly developed.

"We believe a breakthrough may now be possible," he said. He declined to give any details.

Japan and China are hoping Hu's five-day visit will be a show of good-neighborliness, an impression that is especially important for Hu.

With the Olympic Games less than 100 days away, protests dogged China's global torch relay, and as Hu arrived hundreds of demonstrators in Japan marched against China's policy in Tibet and thousands of riot police were mobilized to ensure his safety.

Japan, meanwhile, is benefiting immensely from China's economic growth. While cautious of its rising rival's political and military ambitions, Tokyo has good reason to seek calm relations -- trade reached US$237 billion (euro170 billion) last year, according to Chinese statistics.

"For Japan, China has become the fastest growing export market," Hu told business leaders Wednesday. "For China, Japan is the largest foreign investor. I believe there is a huge potential." Watch how businesses in Japan gain from warming ties »

On a lighter side, Hu said Beijing is willing to loan Tokyo a pair of pandas. The 22-year-old giant panda Ling Ling recently died at Tokyo's largest zoo.

Hu and Fukuda also were to play pingpong before Hu went off to see Yokohama, which has a large Chinatown, and the ancient city of Nara.

"The relationship between China and Japan is of utmost importance to both countries," they said in a joint statement released after the summit. "We agree we must cooperate toward long-term peace and friendship."

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