East China's Shandong province promoted its rich culture and tourism resources along the Yellow River to Japan's Wakayama during a video conference on April 8.

The video conference was held in Jinan, capital of Shandong, and hosted by the Chinese consulate general in Osaka. The event was attended by many government officials from China and Japan, including Xue Jian, consul-general of China in Osaka, who delivered a keynote speech online.

The cooperation in various fields between Shandong and Wakayama has achieved fruitful results since they established friendly relationships in 1984, and the two sides will strengthen more extensive and pragmatic exchanges and cooperation in the future, according to Wang Suilian, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People's Congress.

The Yellow River, which is the cradle of Chinese civilization, runs through nine provinces and autonomous regions including Shaanxi and Henan before emptying into the Bohai Sea in Shandong province. The 5,464-kilometer waterway feeds about 12 percent of China's population, irrigates about 15 percent of arable land, supports 14 percent of the national GDP and supplies water to more than 60 cities. The long history and unique folk customs along the Yellow River create colorful and diversified culture and tourism resources, such as Peony culture, Confucian culture, Grand Canal culture, and Shuihu culture, all of which are attractive and radiant.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China normalizing diplomatic relations with Japan, and Shandong will promote its distinct historical and cultural resources to Japan. Both sides will also deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture and tourism, in a bid to promote shared development opportunities.

East China's Shandong province promotes its rich culture and tourism resources along the Yellow River to Japan's Wakayama during a video conference on April 8. [Photo/Official website of Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government]