An exhibition center, named the Window of China-Japan Exchange, was set up in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Tuesday.

Jointly founded by the Hiroshima-Sichuan Sino-Japanese Friendship Conference Center and Japanese International Exchange Foundation, it aims to introduce Japanese cartoons, pop music and magazines to China to help more Chinese people learn more about Japan.

"We plan to set up 10 to 20 such 'Windows' in a couple of years, mainly in China's provincial capitals that don't have consulates but have frequent exchanges with Japan," Fujita Yasuhiko, director of the Beijing office of the Japanese foundation, told Xinhua.

The center was launched just a day before Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Japan.

Sichuan established a friendship tie with Hiroshima in 1984, said Tang Hong, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office.

"I hope our friendship and exchanges can be further deepened through the 'Window'," Tang said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2007)