Japan ? Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao termed his visit to Japan a success Friday, wrapping up a three-day tour that signaled a thaw in tensions between the two Asian powers but left key disputes unresolved.

During his visit – the first to Japan by a Chinese leader in almost seven years – Wen struck a conciliatory note on Japanese wartime atrocities, stressed the growing interdependence between Asia’s largest economies and wooed the public with a series of goodwill stunts.

“My visit has been a success,” Wen said in the ancient city of Kyoto. “I held friendly, frank, serious and productive talks with Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe, and we reached a common understanding in a wide range of areas.”

The visit followed Abe’s groundbreaking trip to Beijing in October, a major step by Tokyo to repair ties that had seriously deteriorated during the 2001-2006 term of his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi.