The China-Japan Youth Exchange with the theme of “sister cities and shared future” was held both online and offline in Wuhan, Hubei on July 15. Young people from five pairs of sister provinces and cities between Hubei and Japan, namely Hubei and Nagasaki, Wuhan and Oita, Xiangyang and Inuyama, Jingzhou and Aizuwakamatsu, and Ezhou and Sanjo, introduced their hometowns via the virtual platform.

The event was attended by Zhang Xiaomei, Director-General of Hubei FAO and President of Hubei Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Si Qingchuan, Vice President of Hubei Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Makoto Eguchi, International Affairs Division Director of Culture, Tourism and International Affairs Department of Nagasaki Prefectural Government, Takehiko Saeki, Chief of JETRO’s Wuhan office, Li Jun, Deputy Director of Wuhan FAO, Hidemi Sato, President of Japan-China Friendship Association of Oita City and officials from participating sister cities.

Zhang Xiaomei began by thanking all participants. She added that China-Japan friendship has stood the test of Covid-19. Going forward, the two sides should strengthen mutual trust and communication and tap into the potential of sister city ties. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Zhang expressed her hope that the young people of our two countries should carry on this profound friendship forged by elder generations and continue people-to-people exchanges for more tangible outcomes.

Takehiko Saeki pointed out that since 2020, Japan-China exchanges have been disrupted by Covid-19 restrictions. However, this year has seen gradual easing of quarantine requirements. He expressed his hope that bilateral exchanges could be restored at an early date. JETRO’s Wuhan office always stands ready to make its due contribution to Japan-China economic relations and plans to work more closely with higher learning institutions in Hubei.

During the event, youth representatives showcased colorful aspects of their home cities and lives through Vlogs and speeches. In his Vlog, Hubei local Zhang Bowei showed the audience around the beautiful Hubei via a time machine. Ken Ozeki, 18-year-old high school student from Inuyama and professional drone aerial photographer, prepared an aerial video of his city. He expressed his wish to shoot outside Japan and work with his fellows in Xiangyang.

Xiangyang, Jingzhou and Ezhou held one-on-one discussions with sister cities on specific cooperation projects.

Initiated by the CPAFFC, this event marks Hubei’s largest China-Japan sister city exchange this year. It is expected that events of this kind will act as a platform to involve more youth in friendly exchanges between China and Japan and bring Hubei’s relations with Japan to a new height.