Changhua County Magistrate Cho Po-yuan promoted the central Taiwan county's long-stay tourism initiative during ameeting Wednesday with Katsuhiko Umehara, mayor of Sendai City in Japan, and shared his views on issues of mutual concern.

Cho, who is leading a delegation of county officials and councilors on the visit, also reached an agreement with Umehara, during their one-hour meeting, on enhancing bilateral exchanges.

Umehara said that both Sendai and Changhua are middle-size municipalities and one of the main goals of the two governments is to press forward with local development.

The mayor also expressed the hope that the meeting between the two sides would help promote mutual understanding and further exchanges in the future.

Cho, in turn, noted that Changhua County has engaged in frequent interactions with Japan over the past few years, and cited the example of the county government's visit to Hokkaido, Japan last year.

The magistrate touted the attractions of his county's newly developed long-stay tourism plan to the Japanese mayor, urging that Japanese visitors, especially those from the colder regions, should travel to Taiwan and enjoy Changhua's fine weather.

Cho said that on its current trip, his delegation will call on Sendai City's Finland Wellbeing Center to draw on the Japanese experience for Changhua County's plan to establish a health park, and will visit a business center and an international conference center in the city.

Noting that Changhua County and Tainan City in southern Taiwan were among the first areas in the country to be developed, and that Tainan has forged sisterhood ties with Sendai City, Cho expressed hope that his county would also form closer links with the Japanese city.