Zhao highlights people-to-people exchanges

TOKYO: Zhao Qizheng was best known as the voice of the Chinese government when he headed the State Council Information Office. He was also known to most Chinese as the planner of the economic miracle of Shanghai's New Pudong District when he served as vice-mayor of the city in the early 1990s.

But few know that the present chairman of the foreign affairs committee of China's top political advisory body, the CPPCC, has an unusual history with Japan.

At an interactive session with students at the University of Tokyo during the Beijing-Tokyo Forum yesterday, Zhao revealed the links that his family has with the island nation.