Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met in Tokyo with Mr. OKAMOTO TAMOTSU, President of Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) on August 6.

Vice President Song Jingwu said that the CPAFFC and the CLAIR are the organizations managing and promoting local exchanges in their own county. Although the bilateral relations still confront the sensitive and complex situation, the exchanges of the two countries are still in ascendance. Japan is the first country established the friendship city relations with China. Until now, both countries have set up 250 pairs of friendship cities, which are the largest number for China established with foreign countries. He hoped that CLAIR could develop their advantages and work together with China to further promote the pragmatic cooperation and the youth exchanges of the two countries. He wished the Exchanges Conference of Friendship Cities among China, Japan and Korea to be held in October this year in Okayama Prefecture a complete success and expressed that the Chinese side is willing to make efforts and prepare for the conference.

President OKAMOTO TAMOTSU thanked Vice President Song Jingwu for taking time to meet him. President OKAMOTO TAMOTSU also said that under the thoughtful arrangement of CPAFFC, the Exchanges Conference of Friendship Cities among China, Japan and Korea held in Yi Wu, Zhejiang province last year achieved a complete success, which deepened the pragmatic cooperation among the three countries in various sectors. Okayama Prefecture is actively preparing the Conference to be held in October this year. He hoped to receive great support from CPAFFC, so as to hold a successful conference.