Word: visitant
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...Fukuda's precarious situation makes it especially important that Hu's visit goes smoothly. Since hitting a low point in 2005, when thousands of Chinese staged anti-Japanese protests in major Chinese cities, typically frosty political relations between the two countries have been warming up a bit - and because of China's growing economic power, it's crucial to Tokyo that this trend continues. (China last year surpassed the U.S. as Japan's largest export destination.) Like Abe, Fukuda has avoided angering Beijing by refraining from official visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japanese war dead, including 14 convicted...
...Buddhists could embarrass Hu, who has been trying to quell dissent over China's rule in Tibet in the run-up to the summer Olympics in Beijing. Noisy protests in Tokyo "would be impossible for Fukuda to ignore," says Curtis. "It would really throw a damper on the visit...
...summit goes well, though, Fukuda could yet turn around his struggling administration. Abe, his predecessor, was most popular right after his successful visit to Beijing in October 2006. Similar good vibrations could give the current Prime Minister time to reshuffle his Cabinet and survive until July, when the spotlight will be on Japan as it hosts a G-8 summit. That could "slow the erosion of [Fukuda's] support," Curtis says. "That's what he has to do if he's going to stay in office much longer." Says Phil Deans, an international-affairs expert and assistant dean at Temple...
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...passing of Ling Ling could thus become an opportunity for the Chinese President to dramatically improve ties between Tokyo and Beijing. He is already getting the full VIP treatment during his May 6 to 10 tour. Hu will meet with Fukuda, then with the Emperor and Empress, and visit Yokohama's Chinatown as well as the historic city of Nara and the financial center of Osaka. Symbolically, it is already an important trip: it is Hu's first overseas trip since the 17th National Congress confirmed him as President last October. A giant panda would be the perfect diplomatic exclamation...