OSAKA —

Chinese President Hu Jintao kicked off his visit to western Japan, the final portion of his five-day stay in the country, on Friday with a meeting with the Osaka governor and a reception attended by Japanese businessmen. The talks between Hu and Osaka Gov Toru Hashimoto, held shortly after the president’s arrival in the prefecture in the late afternoon, included discussions on economic ties between China and the region, according to an official of the prefectural government.

Hu later attended a reception attended by over 150 people, mostly from the region’s business community. ‘‘Together with you in Osaka and the Kansai region, I would like to make an effort for the development of the countries’ strategic, mutually beneficial relationship,’’ Hu said in the portion of the event that was open to the press. Hu is scheduled to visit ancient temples in Nara Prefecture and tour the headquarters of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. in Osaka Prefecture before heading home on Saturday.

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