From 20 November to 26 November, Ito Yoshitaka, Director of the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library (NDL), led a 5-person delegation to the National Library of China (NLC) for the 39th business exchange between the NLC and the NDL. 

On 21 November, Chen Ying, Secretary of the CPC Committee of the NLC and Deputy Director of the NLC, met with Ito Yoshitaka and his delegation. Chen Ying reviewed the history of business exchanges between the two libraries, affirmed the fruitful results of long-term exchanges and cooperation between the NLC and the NDL, and pointed out that exchanges and cooperation between the library communities of the two countries had played an important role in promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries. She hoped that that both sides would continue to work together to promote the common development of Chinese librarianship and Japanese librarianship in the spirit of mutual understanding, mutual respect, and friendly consultation.

Chen Ying meeting with Ito Yoshitaka and his delegation

Ito Yoshitaka said that friendly exchanges between the NLC and the NDL had been lasting for more than 40 years, and both sides had effectively improved their respective library service levels through exchanges and mutual learning and reference. The Japanese side was willing to continue promoting friendly exchanges between the two libraries and strengthen library business exchanges through various forms.

Afterwards, Zhang Zhiqing, Executive Deputy Director of the NLC, and Wei Chong, Deputy Director of the NLC, respectively attended the business exchange meeting. At the meeting, both sides made keynote speeches and business reports, exchanging views on the main business work carried out by both sides in the past year, and conducting in-depth discussions on the preservation and restoration of ancient books, the digital service strategy of ancient books, the construction and promotion of digital resource repository, public services, and so on.

Zhang Zhiqing attending business exchange meeting

Wei Chong attends business exchange meeting

The NLC and the NDL maintained a tradition of regular mutual visits. This long-term friendly exchange had enhanced mutual understanding, improved the business level of the two libraries, and played a positive role in promoting regional cooperation in the library community and promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries.

During this period, the delegation also visited the First Historical Archives of China, Peking University Library, China National Archives of Publications and Culture, Shanghai Library, Fudan University Library, and so on.