On May 30, 2025, Mr. Kentaro Asano, President and CEO of the World Trade Center Tokyo, attended the opening ceremony of “Fujian Week” held at the China Pavilion of the Osaka Expo. The event, themed “Refreshing Fujian, Land of Innovation,” marks the first time that Fujian Province has independently hosted a week-long series of activities at the World Expo. It serves as a valuable platform to deepen Japan-China cooperation in areas such as economy, culture, and tourism. 

The opening ceremony featured speeches from prominent figures from both China and Japan, including Mr. Jinfu Wang, Vice Governor of Fujian Province; Mr. Jian Xue, Consul General of China in Osaka; and Mr. Kinjo Katsunori, Chairperson of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly. They passionately highlighted Fujian’s dynamic development and the strong potential for enhanced Japan-China exchange. 

In his remarks, Mr. Asano explained that World Trade Center Tokyo operates from a non-political standpoint, acting as a bridge for international business. He expressed his strong commitment to supporting Chinese companies looking to expand globally, while also helping Japan’s traditional small and medium-sized enterprises connect with the international markets. He noted a particular interest in exploring collaborative opportunities with businesses from Fujian Province. 

Mr. Asano further emphasized that this event provides a significant opportunity to enhance mutual understanding between Japan and China—not only in investment and trade, but also in areas such as human resource exchange and cultural cooperation. 

His comments drew attention from local media and participating enterprises and were viewed as paving the way for a new chapter of economic exchange between Fujian Province and Japan.