SHANGHAI Mayor Ying Yong received Yasuo Fukuda, chairman of the Bo’ao Forum for Asia and former prime minster of Japan, on Monday.

He welcomed Fukuda’s participation in a Sino-Japanese youth calligraphy exchange event in Shanghai and said the two countries’ relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships for China.

Ying said friendly exchanges and cooperation between regional governments will benefit this bilateral relationship. Shanghai is the sister city of Yokohama and Osaka and has strong ties with Nagasaki.