Sato Yuri, a council member of the Japan Foundation, led a team to visit Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on March 9. The team was received by Yang Dan, president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, and Ding Hao, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university.

Sato Yuri (L), a council member of the Japan Foundation, talks with Yang Dan (R), president of BFSU and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]

Yang welcomed the arrival of the team, reviewed the friendly exchanges between China and Japan and between BFSU and the Japan Foundation, which have lasted for more than 30 years, and spoke highly of their basis for cooperation.

With irreplaceable and unique strengths in multilingual construction and international exchanges, BFSU has played an important role in people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, and has made great achievements, Yang noted.

The university shares broad space for cooperation with the Japan Foundation in terms of global languages, culture and governance, Yang said, adding that he hopes the two sides will further deepen ties and make greater contributions to mutual learning about their different cultures.

BFSU serves as an important channel for China to learn about Japan, Sato said. The Japan Foundation is anticipating working with the university to expand academic exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and constantly consolidate their friendship.

The two sides held talks on promoting Sino-Japanese exchanges and dialogues on civilization and disseminating Chinese and Japanese cultures. They also discussed strengthened cooperation, co-sponsored academic conferences and publication of Japanese academic journals.

Officials from the Japan Foundation and BFSU pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn]