Toru Hashimoto, mayor of Japan's Osaka city, on Friday presented Chinese student Yan Jun with a letter of commendation for his bravery in rescuing a nine-year boy from a river swollen by a typhoon Monday, Kyodo News reported.

Upon receiving the letter, the 26-year-old Chinese student told Hashimoto he jumped into the river thinking only about rescuing the boy.

Hashimoto expressed the hope that Yan would contribute to improving relations between Japan and China.

Yan, who is due to enter a Ph. D. program at a university in Osaka next year, received Wednesday a certificate of commendation from the Chief of the Osaka Prefectural Police for his brave action.

Yan was jogging alongside the Yodo River in Osaka's Kita Ward when he found the 9-year-old boy struggling in the swollen river. He immediately jumped into the river to save the boy, but was overwhelmed by its fierce flow. He retreated to the river bank and ran 350 meters downstream before diving in again and pulling the boy ashore.