Japan's Kyodo News Agency sent its largest ever delegation to visit China on Monday as part of the two countries' joint efforts to strengthen media exchanges.

The 60-member delegation consists of presidents, chief editors and renowned reporters from Kyodo's 35 partners. During the weeklong trip, they are scheduled to visit the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao as well as rural areas in Hebei Province. They will learn about the preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Ishikawa Satoshi, president of Kyodo, told reporters that members of the delegation will convey what they hear and see in China to ordinary Japanese people, providing an accurate and all-round impression about China.

"The makeup of the delegation has fully demonstrated our great interest in China's economic growth and its increasing influence on the international stage. It also shows we attach great importance to the development of Japan-China relations," he said.

The Chinese State Council's Information Office held a reception for the Kyodo delegation on Monday evening. Director Cai Wu said media in the two countries shoulder important responsibilities to convey information and culture. Over the past years, major news outlets of the two countries have made a unique contribution to the sound development of bilateral ties.

As this year marks the 35th anniversary of normalization of China-Japan relations, Cai called on the media in two countries to play an active role, and provide comprehensive and accurate information to strengthen their mutual understanding and friendship.

Improving media exchanges is an important part of the two countries' efforts to warm relations. It was listed in a joint press communique that the two countries signed during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's Japan tour in April.

Kyodo, one of the leading news agencies in the world, has maintained cooperative ties with China's Xinhua News Agency for years.

(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2007)