Lanzhou, Gansu province, held a ceremony to mark the beginning of exchanges and communication between Gansu and Akita Television Co., in Gansu's Japanese sister city— Akita prefecture, on Sept 8, attracting a delegation from the Japanese company.

Gansu's Radio, Film and Television Station, which organized the activities, signed a cooperation agreement with Akita Television during the opening ceremony.

The television stations of the two regions played vital roles in publicizing social development and culture, accelerating the cooperation between the two regions, remarked Gansu Vice-Governor Xia Hongmin to the delegation led by the company's senior managing director, on Sept 7.

Gansu and Akita prefecture have increased economic, cultural and media cooperation and exchanges since the two sides established friendly relations in 1982. Akita prefecture was the first foreign prefecture to form twin relations with Gansu province since China's reform and opening up in the 1970s.

Edited by Andrew Ancheta