Web Japan - the country's official website, has launched a Chinese edition at http://web-japan.org/index-c.html.

Dubbed "New Trends in Japan", the site provides information on such subjects as culture, tourism and entertainment.

Fukushima Hideo, an official in charge of cultural exchange at Japan's foreign ministry, said the site will help Chinese netizens better know Japan and avoid misunderstandings.

The launch of the website is part of a series of activities of the China-Japan cultural and sports exchange year, which also marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations.

Web Japan is sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and operated by a Japanese non-government organization. It also has an English version and contents in many other languages.

China Daily

(China Daily 04/06/2007 page2)