The BBC's Juliet Hindell: President Jiang says some Japanese want to beautiy past aggression

Mr Jiang, on the fourth day of his historic visit, described himself as a witness during Japan's occupation of China between 1937 to 1945, in which he said 35 million people were killed or injured.

Mr Jiang said Japan must never forget the lessons of its past

The president, addressing students in Tokyo, called on Japan to teach its youth about its past and guide them with what he called ''a correct historical view''.

There was also a skirmish after the speech when three Japanese ultra-rightists raised a banner featuring a Chinese national flag torn in the middle and shouted that it should be China that apologise to Japan.

They were overpowered by 20 Chinese students who took the banner and burnt it.

Outside the university dozens of students staged a protest against China's oppression of minorities, nuclear tests and anti-democratic policies.

'We may use force against Taiwan'

At a later news conference, Mr Jiang accused high-ranking Japanese of distorting their country's war-time past.

The BBC's Juliet Hindell: Many people think it is time to move away from the past

Japan's occupation of China remains a thorn in relations. The two countries formally resumed diplomatic ties in 1972, but Mr Jiang's state visit is the first by a Chinese president.

The Chinese leader repeated his calls for Japan to fully recognise its past after receiving only a verbal apology at his landmark summit on Thursday with Japanese leader Keizo Obuchi.

When asked whether his visit to Japan, which ends on Monday, had been a success, Mr Jiang failed to give a direct answer.

The president also said he did not rule out the use of force against Taiwan if it keeps up a separatist drive.

"I would like to stress that China cannot renounce the use of force against Taiwan," he added.

History overshadows trip

The BBC's Jim Fish: Asia's two giants look to a future still clouded by their shared and often bitter memories

The controversy over Japan's failure to apologise for its wartime occupation has distracted attention from the intended emphasis on ways of increasing economic co-operation.

At an earlier banquet hosted by Mr Obuchi, Mr Jiang said: "Only by learning from history and preventing the recurrence of the tragedy can China and Japan promote a long-lasting friendship."

140,000 died in the notorious Nanking massacre of 1937

In a joint declaration issued on Thursday, Tokyo expressed "deep remorse", but did not apologise for the actions of Japanese forces when they invaded China earlier this century.

A final statement, published after much wrangling, said Japan "painfully [felt] its responsibility for inflicting grave suffering and damage on the people of China by invading China at one period of history".

Neither leader signed the document.

Correspondent Duncan Hewitt: Chinese press puts positive face on visit

Mr Obuchi did verbally offer a "heartfelt apology over the colonial rule and aggression" during talks with Mr Jiang, but similar words were not included in the written statement.

The Chinese Government is keen to cultivate relations with its largest trade partner and largest source of economic aid.

But ahead of Mr Jiang's arrival, China had demanded there should be an unequivocal apology for the war, and a clearer "no compromise" statement about Taiwan, which Beijing views as a renegade province.