A symposium for promoting the seventh China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, an important part of the CIIE, took place in Tokyo, Japan on May 13.

The event attracted representatives from numerous Japanese institutions and companies across various sectors, including automotive, equipment, pharmaceuticals, trade in services, and consumer goods. Participants included the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Toyota, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Takeda, and Shiseido.

Representatives deliver speeches at the symposium. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

Highlighting the close economic and trade partnership between China and Japan, Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau, said that Japan has ranked first for the past six years in a row in terms of the number of companies participating in the CIIE.

Sun also noted the promising prospects for collaboration between China and Japan in fields such as technological innovation, digital economy, green development, and healthcare. He said the CIIE features these topics, and the Hongqiao forum discusses these key issues, providing an excellent platform for practical cooperation between companies from both countries.

Luo Xiaomei, minister of economy and commerce at the Chinese embassy in Japan, said she hopes more Japanese institutions and companies will participate in the seventh CIIE to share in the benefits of China's economic growth.

Masahiro Kawai, an expert at the Hongqiao forum and professor at the University of Tokyo, stressed the importance of the Chinese market for Japanese businesses and economy as a whole. He noted that Japanese companies operating in China would benefit both countries.

Kawai expressed hope that China would further improve its business environment, helping more Japanese companies develop through platforms like the CIIE and the Hongqiao forum.

The CIIE working team visits JETRO. [Photo/CIIE Bureau]

During their time in Japan, the CIIE working team also visited the economic and commercial office of the Chinese embassy in Japan and JETRO.

By Zhao Guangmei