Goodwill trip

Premier Wen Jiabao's three-day official visit to Japan, which began Sunday, is expected to deepen the two Asian powers' strategic relationship and drive bilateral relations in a stable and mutually beneficial direction.

From chatting with Japanese citizens at a Tokyo park to writing a haiku-style poem eulogizing Sino-Japanese friendship, the Chinese premier's visit has sparked much goodwill.

Separated by just a narrow strip of sea, China and Japan have shared a similar cultural heritage and a tradition of friendship dating back to over 1,000 years.