GDFAO Deputy Director Yu Min met with and hosted a banquet for Japan’s Hokkaido Prefecture Vice Governor Kondo Mituo and his party in White Swan Hotel on Nov. 23, 2006.

    Yu expressed his welcome and thanks to Kindo for his heading a delegation to participate in the 2006 Guangdong International Tourism and Culture Festival before briefing the visiting guests on Guangdong’s social and economic development. “Since the signing of the Agreement on the Promotion of Tourism between Guangdong and Hokkaido, promising progress has been scored in mutual tourism exchanges,” Yu said. “Hokkaido’s unique tourism resources have attracted lots of tourists from Guangdong,” Yu noted, hoping that more mutual exchanges and cooperation in economy, culture and other areas will be further achieved. Kindo expressed his appreciation for Guangdong’s hospitality. Both parties also exchanged views on the possibility of direct flight connection between Guangdong and Hokkaido.

    At the invitation of Guangdong Province, Hokkaido Prefecture Government dispatched a forty-odd delegation to participate in the series events of 2006 Guangdong International Tourism & Culture Festival, including PPRD Tourism Promotion Fair, PPRD Tourism Promotion & International Travel Exposition, and the Taiko performance in the opening ceremony and the “Night of Sister Province” evening show.