On February 23, 2008, visiting State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with Governor Toru Hashimoto of Osaka Prefecture and Governor Shogo Arai of Nara Prefecture respectively in Japan.

When meeting with Toru Hashimoto, Tang said that with a tradition of close contacts with China Osaka is the forerunner in Japan's cooperation with China. The Kansai region with Osaka at the core holds a critical position in the economic and trade relations between China and Japan. The upcoming state visit of President Hu Jintao to Japan will boost the bilateral ties and build more promising prospects for Osaka's exchanges and cooperation with China. The Chinese side attaches importance to the exchanges with Osaka Prefecture and hopes the Prefecture continues to use its unique advantages to promote the cooperation with China in such fields as energy, environmental protection, finance, new and high-tech and small and medium-sized enterprises and play a bigger role of advancing the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Hashimoto noted that Osaka Prefecture has always been an important window for Japan's exchanges with China. Faced with the sound opportunities of further development of bilateral ties Osaka will take a more active attitude to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation with China.

During the talks with Shogo Arai, Tang pointed out that Nara Prefecture has played an indispensable role as the link between China and Japan and is the place where the traditional culture of the two countries converges. 1400 years ago Master Jianzhen of China visited Japan six times and finally preached Buddhism and spread the Chinese civilization in Nara. Today China and Nara enjoy dynamic exchanges and cooperation. He indicated hope that Nara will carry on the fine tradition and open a new chapter in the friendly relations between China and Japan.

Shogo Arai said that the people of Nara cherish the long history of cultural exchanges with China and expect to carry on the spirit of Jianzhen and make new contributions to promoting the cultural and educational exchanges between the two countries.