An 11-member Tokushima youth table tennis delegation led by the director of the International Exchange Office of the Ministry of Living Environment of Tokushima Prefecture of Japan, visited Hunan on July 23, at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hunan Provincial People's Government. The visit aimed to further deepen the friendly relations between Hunan Province and Tokushima Prefecture.
Representatives of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government and the Hunan People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries expressed warm welcome to the Japanese guests and held a meeting with the delegation.
During their stay in Hunan, the delegation had a table tennis training session at the Hunan Pinglida Super Table Tennis Club and attended a friendship table tennis match among Chinese, Japanese, and Uruguayan teams. The delegation had friendly talks with table tennis players from Hunan's sports schools, the High School Attached to Hunan Normal University, and Changjun High School, as well as Uruguayan national team members. After the match, youngsters from China, Japan, and Uruguay exchanged gifts as souvenirs.
The China-Japan-Uruguay friendly table tennis match.
The China-Japan-Uruguay friendly table tennis match.
The delegation also visited Orange Isle Scenic Area, Hunan Museum, and Changsha Planning Exhibition Hall to gain a deeper understanding of Changsha's profound history and culture. The Japanese guests marveled at Changsha's urban planning and overall development achievements. The delegation head wrote down his impressions on Changsha on a guest book, stating, "I like Changsha, Hunan Province, the most, because of its beautiful scenery, delicious cuisine, and lively city life. I hope to visit Changsha once again--no, many times again."
The delegation spoke highly of the table tennis exchange activity organized by the Changsha International Exchange Service Center, from professional training plans and skilled youth partners, to comfortable training venues and thoughtful supporting services. Afterwards, Chinese and Japanese government representatives, coaches and students wrote down their best wishes to each other on table tennis rackets.
The five-day trip came to a swift conclusion, but the tree of friendship between China and Japan will last forever. The visit to Changsha left a beautiful and unforgettable memory for the delegation, and they will return to Japan cherishing the moments while sharing their experiences — what they saw, heard, and felt in China with their colleagues, family members, and friends. The delegation looks forward to another trip next year.
This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.
Translator: Xiao Juan
Chinese source: official WeChat account of the Changsha International Exchange Service Center
