On Nov 29th, Ge Honglin, mayor of Chengdu met with Hiroyuki Ishige, president of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to have a discussion on locating JETRO's office in the Chengdu, Sichuan province.

JETRO is a government organ promoting Japan's trade and investment in foreign countries and regions. It is mainly engaged in attracting overseas companies to invest in Japan, assisting small and medium-sized companies to explore the overseas market and furnishing a platform for company business affairs.

To date, JETRO has set up 73 offices in 55 countries and regions, including China's Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, Qingdao, Wuhan and Hong Kong.

Ge Honglin briefed Chengdu's economic and social progress, particularly development of the electronic information and auto manufacturing sectors and the planning and construction of Tianfu Economic Zone.

Ge said that in recent years, Chengdu and Japan have boosted trade relations. A large number of famous Japanese companies, including Toyota, Kobe Steel, ItoYokado and Itochu, have invested in Chengdu and continually add to it. The two parties have established long-term win-win cooperation.

Ge said that JETRO has strength and a wealth of experience in foreign trade. Chengdu welcomes the company to set up an office in the city and explore west China's business on this basis. Chengdu will supply JETRO and Japanese companies with quality services and deepen mutual cooperation.