In the afternoon of December 26, Chairman Zhang Jianhua met with a delegation led by Mr. Hiroto Hirakoba, Consul-General of Japan to Qingdao at Rongcheng Club.
Mr. Zhang welcomed Mr. Hiroto Hirakoba and pleasantly recalled their recent meeting with the consul-general. Mr. Zhang said Shandong and Japan are across sea neighbors; there is frequent exchange of persons and trade between both sides. As Japan is one of the major markets of Hiking, the Group attaches great importance to the friendly exchange with Japan, and actively promotes multi-form cooperation between the two sides. For years, the Group has kept good economic and trading ties with Japan. The bilateral cooperative fields are expanding and the so is the friendly exchanges. The establishment of Consulate-General of Japan at Qingdao in 2009 has made great contributions to the exchange and collaboration between Hiking and Japan, and provided more opportunities for further bilateral collaboration. Not long ago, the opening of Hiking Longlife International Eldercare Center jointly set up by Hiking and a Japanese company was a good example of bilateral cooperation. He believed that under the leadership of Mr. Hiroto Hirakoba, the Consulate will make more contribution to the mutual development of the Group and Japan.
Mr. Hiroto Hirakoba expressed his appreciation for the cares and supports Mr. Zhang and the Group have granted to the Consulate-General of Japan at Qingdao, and said he will make more effort to enhance bilateral exchanges.