Suzhou's Xiangcheng District makes progress in promoting China-Japan cooperation

2021-04-12 16:32:00

Xiangcheng District in Suzhou City released the work consultation protocols for the Sino-Japanese (Suzhou) Regional Cooperation Demonstration Zone, an initiative to boost bilateral ties, and also announced a number of projects.

In April last year, the National Development and Reform Commission approved the establishment of the demonstration zone, which was officially unveiled then in July. Suzhou and the Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai then cooperated to work out the protocols that aim to improve communication at governmental levels and facilitate exchange between government departments and enterprises. In this January, Li Yaping, deputy secretary of the CPC Suzhou Committee and Akio Isomata, ambassador and consul-general of Japan in Shanghai approved this arrangement through an exchange of letters.

The event also unveiled the development plan of the high-profile Qingtai Sino-Japanese Industrial Design Culture Village, which will cover an area of approximately 33 hectares (including water area) and feature cultural and tourism industries. With a goal to be a mixed-use complex, it has already attracted projects from many regions in Japan, including Aichi, Gunma, Ishikawa and Kagoshima.

The Tokyo station of Suzhou Xiangcheng International Economic and Trade Promotion Centre was also released amid efforts to promote the innovative development of the demonstration zone.

Meanwhile, the foundation stone of Suzhou Sino-Japanese Friendship Observatory was laid thanks to cooperation between Suzhou and its sister city Ikeda since 1981. Ikeda in Osaka Prefecture gave a reflecting telescope to Suzhou then, promoting he scientific study of celestial objects in the city. It was decided after talks last year that the observatory in Suzhou Park will be relocated to the demonstration zone.

The mayor of Ikeda sent a congratulatory letter to the latest development and said the city will present another telescope to Suzhou to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship.