Japanese city expects further exchanges with Xiamen

Masaaki Nakamura, director of the Japanese city Kumamoto's office in Shanghai, visits Xiamen, Fujian province from Jan 5 to 7. [Photo/fo.xm.gov.cn]

Masaaki Nakamura, director of the Japanese city Kumamoto's office in Shanghai, visited Xiamen, Fujian province from Jan 5 to 7 to learn from the Chinese city's advanced experience in marathon organization.

The Japanese city this year also dispatched its athletes for the 2019 Xiamen International Marathon following their attendance in the 2015 edition of the race.

Li Xiaoping, director of Xiamen's Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, met with the delegation after the Xiamen marathon.

Li said that Kumamoto has carried out various exchanges with Xiamen over recent years.

The city has attended many exhibitions in Xiamen, such as the annual China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT), one of the leading high-profile investment promotion fairs in China, the China (Xiamen) International Forum for Mayors of Friendship Cities and the China (Xiamen) International Leisure Tourism Expo.

Li hopes that Kumamoto will further exchanges with Xiamen in economy, tourism, culture and sports with the help of the city's office in Shanghai, and invited the city's mascot Kumamon to cheer up runners at the Xiamen marathon.

Nakamura spoke highly of the organization of the 2019 Xiamen Marathon and its beautiful landscape along the racing track.

Kumamoto also holds a marathon each year, and Nakamura invited Xiamen athletes for the upcoming event, expecting their participation in the race to bolster the two cities' cooperation in culture, sports and tourism.

He added that attending the CIFIT is an important way for Kumamoto to cooperate with Xiamen in economic affairs and trade and they will continue to attend it in the future.

Runners from Kumamoto city pose for a photo before the 2019 Xiamen International Marathon held on Jan 6. [Photo/fo.xm.gov.cn]