Japanese cities with large populations of foreign nationals on Tuesday urged the central government to offer more assistance as the country prepares to start accepting workers from overseas under a new visa system.

Leaders and representatives of 15 municipalities with an especially high concentration of citizens from South America and elsewhere gathered for their annual meeting to discuss with central government and immigration officials how best to live together with foreign nationals.

The Council of Municipalities with Large Migrant Populations compiled a statement stating Japan as a society must work on a variety of issues that may accompany the expected influx of foreigners.