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Emblems

Prefecture Flag

Prefecture Tree

Prefecture Flower

Prefecture Bird

Geography
The Japanese Isles stretch across East of Asia-Europe Continent like an arch, consisting of four big islands and many other big or small. Hyogo Prefecture lies in middle of Japanese Isles, overlooking the Japan Sea to the North and adjoins the Pacific Ocean across the Seton Inland Sea and Awaji Island to the South. The Hyogo Prefecture consists of Kobe District, Hanshi District, Harima District, Tajima District, Tamba District and Awaji District.

Capital
Kobe

Governor
Mr. Ido Toshizo

Landspace and Population
Hyogo Prefecture covers a total land area of 8,390 sq. km. with a total population of 5.5 million

History and Culture
Hyogo Prefecture was established in 1868 when the Port of Kobe was opened to the world. At that time, the Hyogo area consisted of four prefectures: Hyogo, Shikama, Toyooka and Myodo, which were brought together into the single prefecture of Hyogo in 1876.

Within the Prefecture, there are historic relics as well as natural beauty of the seasons, which is widely considered to be "Japan in miniature". The Himeji Castle of is well known for its "World Heritage Status". The Nada Festival (14th –15th , Oct.) of the Himeji Castle is a real treat of a year.

Himeji Castle

Economy and Industry
The GDP of Hyogo Prefecture exceeds US$200 billion. Industry is the single most prominent sector in the economy. The area including Kobe, Hanshi, East and West Harima District is inhabited by 91% of the total population and is also the concentrated area for major industries like metal and steel production, ship building, machinery. While other districts are characterized by green mountains, clean waters and rich natural resources with a flourishing Agricultural production. The economic structure is diversified, which includes metal and steel production, ship building, machinery, food as well as traditional local industries like brewery, rubber production, plastic shoes production, leather handbags production and clay tile production.

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - Pearl Bridge

Establishment of Sister Province/State Relationship

On March 23th, 1983, Mr. LIU Tianfu, Governor of GD and Mr. Sakai Tokitada, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture signed the Agreement to establishment the GD-Hyogo Sister Province/Prefecture Relationship in Kobe, Japan.

Friendly Exchanges

Since the establishment of Sister/Prefecture Relationship in 1983, GD and Hyogo have carried out substantive exchanges in personnel training, economy and trade, agriculture, environment, education and culture in various forms. The friendly exchanges were orderly planned, substantial in content and consistent.

During 1983 and 1998, 47 GD official delegations, totaling 470 person-times from almost every Provincial Government Agency and from Industrial, Agricultural, Commercial and Academic sectors had visited Hyogo and all the local costs were met by the Hyogo side. During 1989 and 2002, 15 tourist boats carrying over 7000 person times (University students or citizens) had sailed to GD. In Aug., 2001, for the first time, GD organized a 215-students' large-scale delegation from universities and high schools and visited Hyogo.

Since 1981, GD has dispatched 80 Senior Technical Professionals to Hyogo's hospital and other organizations to study and do research work. Since 1992, 547 GD Technical Workers had been sent to Hyogo to work in the small and medium-sized companies. The international travel expense and the local living expense were both provided by Hyogo. Since 1992, GD and Hyogo jointly launched "Hyogo Industrial Village" Project in order to promote Hyogo's investment in GD.

Starting from 1992, GD Academy of Social Sciences collaborated with Hyogo Prefecture Agricultural Experimental Center to develop new paddy rice breed and so far new rice species "Hyokei 63" was successfully developed and was under experimental planting in Hyogo. Currently, the two sides are jointly developing anti-heat, anti-pest new rice species. More over, GD Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau collaborated with Hyogo Environment Bureau in the research of acid rain and also in the real of monitoring water quality.

In May 2000, the Zhongshan University of GD, GD University of Foreign Studies, Jinan University，South China Normal University of GD joint the HUMAP (Hyogo University Mobility of Asia and Pacific) program. Under this arrangement, the GD universities will conduct students’ exchange with 6 Hyogo universities and the academic credits are recognized by partner universities.

In Nov. 2001, GD and Hyogo formally launched "Japan-GD Economic Promotion Council" as an important platform for friendly exchanges between GD-Japan and GD-Hyogo. The council focuses on the research of macroeconomic policies, which will be of great reference value for the sustainable development of GD.

The recent ground-breaking move saw the signing of the "Jointly Declaration of 20th Anniversary of Sister Province/Prefecture Relationship" and its implementing details on Nov., 30th, 2002. The Declaration specified the direction and content for expanding exchanges in economy, culture, art, tourism, education, agriculture, based on the existing substantive results.

Launch of Japan-GD Economic Promotion Council and its First Session

University Students from Hyogo visiting Guangzhou

Editor: Wing