By Yoko Kubota

TOKYO (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao, on a symbolic visit to cement warming ties with Japan, urged the two Asian powers to look to the future as partners not rivals, but protests outside even as he spoke suggested some bumps ahead.

Hu wants to build goodwill after a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, when they agreed to focus on cooperation after years of rancor over Japanese wartime aggression.

In a speech at Tokyo's elite Waseda University, Hu touched on Japan's 1931-1945 invasion and occupation of part of China, saying the "unfortunate history caused not only great misfortune among Chinese people but also great suffering for the Japanese people.

"To remember history is not to nurse hatred, but to use history as a mirror and look forward to the future. Cherish peace, safeguard peace, let Chinese people and Japanese people be friends generation by generation," Hu said to applause, in a speech broadcast live on Japan's NHK public television.

Hu lavished praise on Japan, expressed admiration for the hardworking Japanese and urged the two countries to "recognize each other's development objectively and accurately and consider each other as partners for cooperation, not rivals ... not as threat, but an opportunity."

Both leaders want Hu's visit to be a success -- Fukuda because of low support ratings that could force him from office and Hu because he wants to shake off international pressure over unrest in Tibet that could mar the Beijing Olympics in August.