High hopes for princeling Hu Deping's Tokyo visit

Tokyo has high hopes that an eight-day visit by Hu Deping , the son of the late Chinese leader Hu Yaobang , will help repair strained ties, although analysts warn that a significant breakthrough is unlikely.

Riding on his father's legacy as a friend of Japan and with direct access to China's top leadership, the retired "princeling" is widely seen as an unofficial envoy to engage with Japanese leaders at a time when stalled high-level exchanges have stalled.

Analysts say Hu's unique role has allowed flexibility for both sides to test the waters on how to push forward the relationship, which has sunk to a new low over disagreements about territorial and historical issues.

Hu arrived in Tokyo on Saturday after being invited by Japan's foreign ministry. Travelling in a personal capacity, Hu has met senior officials including Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

In his meeting with Suga on Tuesday, Hu emphasised the need for co-operation instead of confrontation."Japan and China are inseparable in terms of economics and we have to continue to deepen exchanges," Hu told Suga during their discussions.

Suga replied: "What is important is for us to develop a mutually beneficial relationship that is based on common strategic interests."

Kishida emphasised in his meeting with Hu that it was important for Tokyo and Beijing to advance their relationship despite having problems over individual issues.