CNAIC Visits Kankeiren and Chukeiren, and Tours Expo2025 to Deppen Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Cooperation
2025年05月18日
Led by Chairman Mr. Thomas T.L. Wu, a CNAIC trade delegation was organized to Osaka and Nagoya, Japan on May 18-23, 2025. Aiming to promote bilateral business exchanges and learn from Japan's experience in industrial innovation, the six-day trip covered visits to the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) and Central Japan Economic Federation (Chukeiren), as well as a tour of the Expo2025 in Osaka.
Upon arrival in Japan on May 18, the CNAIC delegation was warmly received by Kankeiren Chairman Mr. Masayoshi Matsumoto in Awaji Island. During his remarks, CNAIC Chairman Wu expressed his sincere appreciation to Kankeiren Chairman Matsumoto for hosting the welcome dinner in honor of the CNAIC delegation during the weekend, pointing out that the bilateral friendship and cooperation have been close since the two parties signed an MoU on 2019. In response, Kankeiren Chairman Matsumoto emphasized that Taiwan and Japan are important trade partners for each other, and hoped that Expo2025 would enhance more active business exchanges between the two sides.
On the following day of May 19, CNAIC hosted a thank-you dinner for Kankeiren at Osaka Club. In his opening remarks, CNAIC Chairman Wu welcomed the participation of 18 Kankeiren representatives and Japanese entrepreneurs as it signified the great importance attached to this special occasion by Kankeiren. Looking back at the close ties shared by CNAIC and Kankeiren, CNAIC Chairman Wu noted that the Covid-19 pandemic may have disrupted physical exchanges, but the bilateral partnership has become even stronger. In the future, he looked forward to working together with Kankeiren to promote Taiwan-Japan cooperation on areas such as high-tech, green energy and digital transformation, and also extended his sincere invitation to Kankeiren Chairman Matsumoto to visit Taiwan at his convenience.
For his part, Kankeiren Chairman Matsumoto introduced Kankeiren as the most representative economic group in Kansai. While Kansai takes the lead in the fields of green technologies and life science, Taiwan is a significant partner for the business community in Kansai as the two sides have developed close relations on trade, talents and industrial cooperation. It is his ardent hope that Taiwan and Kansai can further their connections and forge more achievements by leveraging each other’s advantages. He also praised the success of Taiwan’s “Tech World” pavilion at Expo2025 that highlighted the importance of Taiwan in the international arena.
During their stay in Osaka, the CNAIC delegation paid a visit to Expo2025 on May 20-21. Through the tour of 10 pavilions, the delegates not only experienced the diverse cultures and cutting-edge technologies showcased at the expo, but also got a better understanding on the latest developments of the future society, green energies, smart cities, medical technologies and AI demonstrated by Japan and other developed countries. It indeed serves as valuable inspiration for Taiwan’s industrial transformation in the future.
On May 22, the delegation arrived at Nagoya, the second leg of the trip, where they visited the Nagoya Castle and Chukeiren’s office. At the luncheon hosted by CNAIC, Chairman Wu lauded the vibrant energy of Central Japan’s business sectors, adding that it connects closely with Taiwan’s industries as the two sides complement each other well. In his response remarks, Chukeiren Chairman Mr. Akihisa Mizuno shared his visit to Taiwan in 2024 when he called on the semiconductor clusters in Hsinchu, encouraging Taiwan and Japan to strengthen cooperation in areas of semiconductors, AI and climate changes, among others.
An official visit to Chukeiren’s office was arranged after the luncheon on the same day. Speaking as the head of CNAIC’s trade delegation, Chairman Wu reviewed the strong connection between the two organizations which has never been interrupted even during the time of Covid-19 pandemic. He also underscored the importance of the CNAIC-Chukeiren MoU signed in 2023 and the visit to Taiwan by Chukeiren Chairman Mizuno in 2024 in terms of deepening the bilateral relationship. CNAIC Chairman Wu expressed his hope that the two organizations will continue joining hands in expanding their collaboration on advanced technologies, carbon neutrality, hydrogen energy and green energy. More importantly, he cordially invited Chukeiren Chairman Mizuno and Chairman-elect Mr. Satoru Katsuno to work together for better cooperation and for a new chapter of Taiwan-Japan economic and trade ties.
Following the successful visit to Osaka and Nagoya, CNAIC looks forward to creating comprehensive cooperation opportunities on sectors including semiconductor, AI, smart manufacturing, green energy, tourism and talents between Taiwan and Japan. The six-day trip also enables CNAIC to reaffirm its partnership with Kankeiren and Chukeiren as well as lays a solid foundation for stronger Taiwan-Japan economic and trade relations in the future. As the apex business organization in Taiwan, CNAIC will continue acting as a bridge between Taiwan and Japan, supporting the two sides to promote closer industry collaboration, address global economic challenges together and build a win-win partnership.
