Okinawa Gov Denny Tamaki visited southeastern China's Fujian on Thursday to boost exchanges between the southern Japanese prefecture and the province, whose ties date back more than 600 years, including the period of the Ryukyu Kingdom that lasted until the 19th century. The Ryukyu Kingdom, established in the 15th century in what is now Japan's Nansei Islands, which extend southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan, had tributary relations with both China and Japan. In Fuzhou, Tamaki visited a graveyard where Ryukyu people, including ship crew and students, are buried. The governor's visit to China has garnered attention as Chinese President Xi Jinping, who formerly served as a Fujian governor, made a rare remark in June on historical exchanges between China and Ryukyu. Tamaki told reporters Wednesday evening in Beijing that he believes Xi's remark suggests his willingness to further develop ties between Okinawa and Fujian based on the long history of exchanges.

Source: New York Times July 07, 2023 09:33 UTC