On April 29, Du Jibin, director of Changzhou Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and vice chairman of Changzhou People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CZPAFFC), met with the delegation headed by Hitoshi Ebara, vice president of Japan-China Friendship Association of Osaka. The purpose of this visit is to promote non-governmental exchanges between Takatsuki and Changzhou.

Changzhou and Takatsuki established friendship relations in 1987. Over the past 20 years, the two sides have maintained constant exchanges and cooperation in fields of trading, culture, education, etc. Hitoshi stated that Takatsuki is willing to enhance the friendship with Changzhou through non-governmental exchanges. Du expressed welcome to Hitoshi’s delegation and said that the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office and CZPAFFC will actively promote non-governmental exchanges and cooperation with the friendship cities in Japan. He stated that Changzhou will attend the Japan-China Friendship Conference in Osaka this September. He also invited the Japanese friendship cities to send delegations to Changzhou.