Huang Ziqiang, Director General of Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office, met with Keiko Kiyohara, Representative of and Special Advisor to the Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, as well as delegation head of Hyogo Joint Summer Session at Sea 2006, along with other delegation officials on the evening of September 8, 2006 in China Hotel. Huang also hosted a banquet for visiting Japanese guests afterwards.

Huang extended his warm welcome to Keiko, who headed a 502-member delegation of Hyogo Joint Summer Session at Sea 2006 to visit Guangdong. Huang also expressed his appreciation to Hyogo Prefecture for its commitment to promoting mutual exchanges between Guangdong and Hyogo in various areas, especially in young student exchanges. "China-Japan friendship is after all people-to-people friendship. Younger generation is the future of a nation. Young student exchanges between Guangdong and Hyogo is instrumental in promoting mutual understanding and friendship and fostering successors for China Japan friendship. The development of friendship exchanges between Guangdong and Hyogo will play a positive role in further pushing forward the development of China Japan friendship," Huang said.

Keiko expressed his appreciation to Huang for his meeting and banquet. Keiko noted that fruitful achievements accomplished in mutual exchanges and cooperation in various areas have benefited greatly from the great importance attached by Guangdong and Hyogo leaders as well as from the long term support and assistance provided Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office. Keiko also expressed his hope that Guangdong and Hyogo will work together to further expand youth exchanges and foster successors for China Japan friendship.

Yu Min, Deputy Director General of Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office also attended the meeting and banquet.

Editor: Wing