The primary goal of the four-day trip was to increase the thaw in the relationship between the two nations, a relationship that had reached a low point under the premiership of Japan's Junichiro Koizumi between 2000 and 2006.

But several issues, such as the exploitation of natural gas fields in the East China Sea, still remain unresolved in the wake of the visit. Observers are saying that Beijing is choosing to leave such sensitive matters untouched for the moment, due to the fact that Mr Fukuda is under pressure in Japan.

Since he took office in September, Mr Fukuda's popularity has declined rapidly, due mainly to a bribery scandal involving a government minister and problems with Japanese pension funds.

By Copyright Radio Netherlands 2007