Abdul Aziz Al-Kraridis, director general of the Presidency of Youth Welfare, headed a Saudi youth delegation, which recently visited Toyone village in Japan.

“Many people from the village, including Mayor Minoru Ito, Deputy Mayor Tanabe and Araki, head of the Toyone-Saudi Friendship Committee, welcomed the delegation,” read a statement issued by the Japanese Embassy.

Toyone village was the friendship partner of Saudi Arabia during the Aichi Expo, which was held in Japan in 2005. The event emphasized the close ties binding humanity to nature in the 21st century through its theme of “Nature’s Wisdom.”

The expo also gave visitors a chance to experience at first-hand the leading-edge technologies, new social systems and future lifestyles that may provide solutions to many serious issues facing the world.

The delegation and village officials exchanged views on the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan, especially in the field of youth exchange and sports.

The village officials noted that 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Saudi-Japanese cultural partnership, which has since flourished.

The Saudi delegation included Turki Al-Qahtani, Ali Al-Aliwah, Faris Al Shareef, Adel Mazi, Fahad Al-Hamzani, Hazim Al-Ruki, Bader Al-Shabanat, and Abdullah Al-Hunainhen, who expressed pleasure with their visit.