Schwarzenegger more popular than Bush !

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has did pledge to flex his muscles to promote Californian trade.

The Hollywood star and former Mr Universe was in Tokyo on a four-day trade mission some think could also be aimed at showing his diplomatic credentials as a possible presidential candidate in 2008.

Schwarzenegger, known by his adoring Japanese fans as "Shuwa-chan," smiled and swapped compliments with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi before they settled down for a chat.

"You're very popular," Schwarzenegger told Koizumi, whose once sky-high support levels are now just under 50 percent.

"You too ... more popular than Bush," replied Koizumi, a close ally of re-elected President Bush.

Friends of the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger say he ultimately wants to be president and he has expressed support for a change in the U.S. Constitution to allow foreign-born Americans to be president.

But on Friday he laughed off Koizumi's comment.

"He's very funny, very complimentary always," he said. "He still thought I looked like a Mr Universe, which I'm not."

Asked whether he'd given Koizumi a glimpse of his biceps, Schwarzenegger added: "No ... I'm here to flex my muscles for our state, to create more trade and more tourism."

Schwarzenegger has long been popular in Japan, which he has visited in the past to promote his movies and make commercials for Japanese products from health drinks to noodles.

Now he wants to convince Japan -- already California's biggest foreign investor and second-largest trading partner -- to deepen economic ties.

Media reports have said Schwarzenegger is keen for Toyota Motor Corp. to use its California plant to manufacture its popular Prius hybrid petrol and electricity-powered car.

On Thursday, he met Toyota President Fujio Cho. Details of their conversation were not available, but some auto industry analysts said California was a long-shot as a site for the hybrid because it is a joint venture with General Motors Corp.

Toyota has said it may make hybrids at a plant in North America in the future.

Global Arnold Staff