Chinese Premier in historic visit to Japan

CHINESE Premier Wen Jiabao took his milestone Japan visit to Kyoto yesterday, sipping tea and mingling with the public as he tried to add a human touch to warming political relations.

After two days of high-profile politics in Tokyo where he called for a new era in bilateral ties, Friday’s trip offered a photo-op finale to the first visit to Japan by a Chinese leader in seven years.

He arrived in this ancient city to the sound of Japanese harps and then sat down for a traditional tea ceremony, sipping the bitter green drink next to a golden panel with calligraphy that read “mutual respect”.