On the first "Sino-Japan Governors Forum" held in Japan, trade exchanges were launched in Japan on April 16. Anhui delegates reached important agreements with their Japanese counterparts.

466 Japanese enterprises and over 700 business representatives in the fields of politics, industry, commerce and finance were in attendance.

Governor Li Bin spoke to directors from the departments of Commerce and Tourism to promote the province.

A framework agreement was signed between the provincial Department of Commerce and the Organization to Promote Japan-China Investments, along with the provincial Association on Trade Promotion and the Japan-China Economic Association.

41 cooperation projects with a cumulative investment of $2.19 billion dollars were signed by Anhui enterprises including Conch Group, Chery Company and Bengbu Design Research Institute for Glass Industry of CTIEC (China Triumph International Engineering Co.), as well as Japanese companies such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fujitsu and Mitsubishi Corp.

On the afternoon of April 16, Governor Li met Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade.

Li hopes the association would encourage Japanese entrepreneurs to invest in Anhui.

Li met Yokoo Hidehiro, vice president of the Japan External Trade Organization on the morning of April 17.

Li Bin also met business executives from Hitachi, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi Corporation, Kao, Marubeni, Mizuho Financial Group and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.

Some Japanese enterprises intend to expand their business in Anhui to boost electronic information, equipment manufacturing, environmental protections, energy conservation and new materials.

Mizuho Financial Group and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ said they would establish provincial financial branches and market Anhui investments.

The provincial location, resources and markets are attracting more domestic and overseas firms.

As the second largest country investing in the province and its third top trade partner, over 400 Japanese enterprises are already investing in Anhui such as Hitachi and Toshiba.

Governor Li hopes bilateral cooperation will be strengthened with upgrades in industrial sectors. She said Anhui would offer higher quality services for Japanese investors.

Edited by Fu Bo and Tom McGregor