Ancient city a testament to close ties between neighbors

NARA, Japan: A visit to an ancient Japanese temple with strong historic links to China wound up President Hu Jintao's five-day state visit.

In gentle, steady rain, Hu visited Horyuji and Toshidai-ji, two Buddhist temples in Nara City - reminiscent of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's visit last year to Qufu, home of Confucius, in search of traces of Chinese influence on Japan.

Nara City - the first permanent Japanese capital which was built in 710 - and the two temples are a showcase of active exchanges between China and Japan in ancient times.