BEIJING - JAPANESE Prime Minister Taro Aso, known for his love of manga comics and cartoons, used a bit of pop culture diplomacy to charm the Chinese during his first state visit to Beijing, officials said.

Before his talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday, Mr Aso took time out to meet Chinese students studying Japanese, and watched a film from the animated 'Detective Conan' series that they had helped dub into Mandarin.

'He said he was very impressed by the students' ability to speak Japanese,' officials travelling with Mr Aso said in a statement.

The Japanese prime minister also met last year's Chinese winner of an international manga contest he set up in 2007 while serving as foreign minister.

Known for his sometimes gruff manner, Mr Aso has sought to soften his image in recent years by casting himself as a Japanese 'otaku' - someone whose hobby borders on obsession - and praising manga.

Also on Wednesday, Mr Aso met Chinese filmmaker Feng Xiaogang, whose blockbuster romantic comedy 'Fei Cheng Wu Rao' (If You Are the One) featured scenes shot on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

'Thanks to your film, the popularity of Hokkaido as a tourist site soared,' officials quoted Mr Aso as telling the Chinese director.

'Many Chinese people are visiting Hokkaido. I'm grateful to you.' Mr Aso was due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao later on Thursday before heading home. -- AFP