Zhang Tong, mayor of Nantong, meets with Hiroyasu Tsuji, mayor of Izumi, Japan, on Nov 25. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Zhang Tong, mayor of Nantong in Jiangsu province, met with a delegation led by Hiroyasu Tsuji, mayor of Izumi, Japan, on Nov 25.

On behalf of local authorities, Zhang welcomed Tsuji and his delegation. After giving a briefing on Nantong's economic and social development, she said that Nantong boasts close economic and trade exchanges with Japan, and since forging sister-city relations with Izumi, both sides have conducted extensive cooperation in education, economy, sports, health, and other fields.

She said she looks forward to both sides strengthening industrial collaboration, innovation cooperation, and talent cultivation in the fields of marine economy and silver economy. She also expressed hopes of continuing to enhance cultural exchanges, deepening practical cooperation in education, healthcare, cultural tourism, youth interaction, architecture, and other areas.

Tsuji thanked Nantong for the warm reception and congratulated the city on its achievements in economic and social development. He noted that since the establishment of the friendly relationship between the two cities, they have continuously deepened friendly exchanges in education and culture, forging a deep friendship.

He also expressed a desire to use the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship as a new starting point to expand cooperation and enhance the traditional friendship between the two cities.

During their stay in Nantong, the delegation visited local schools and toured the Nantong Urban Planning Museum, Nantong Museum, and Nantong International Home Textile Industrial Park.