China-Japan Relations: Keidanren Postpones Its Mission to China Next Month

Keidanren has announced the postponement of its planned small-scale mission to China in mid-November. The city of Shenzhen is hosting the APEC summit in mid-November, and China is unable to provide adequate reception due to large-scale events. Prior to this, several pro-China Japanese business associations had visited China to improve bilateral relations. It is reported that three Japanese business organizations plan to jointly visit Beijing in March next year.

Japan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keiretsu Federation) announced today that it has decided to delay its planned mid-November small-scale visit to China. The reason given is that China, due to having to deal with a large-scale event, finds it difficult to ensure the necessary reception mechanisms. As currently arranged, Shenzhen will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in mid-November. According to reports from Kyodo News, the delegation was originally scheduled to visit Jiangsu and other regions, with about 20 people in total. Following Japanese Prime Minister Koishikawa Kishimi's statement in November last year expressing concern about a hypothetical conflict involving Taiwan, Sino-Japanese relations have deteriorated. Previously, multiple Japan-China-friendly business associations visited China in hopes of improving bilateral relations. It is understood that the Keiretsu Federation is also coordinating with the China-Japan Business Federation and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to have three leaders of these organizations lead a delegation to Beijing for a visit in March next year.

Japan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keiretsu Federation) has confirmed that its planned mid-November trip to China will be delayed. The reason provided is that due to preparations for a major event, China is struggling to arrange reliable reception arrangements. The planned visit was intended to include a small delegation of approximately 20 people touring Jiangsu and other areas. Tensions have risen between Japan and China since Prime Minister Koishikawa Kishimi sparked concerns about a hypothetical conflict involving Taiwan last November. In the meantime, several pro-China Japanese business associations have made trips to China in an effort to rebuild relations. The Keiretsu Federation is currently discussing a broader trip to Beijing with the China-Japan Business Federation and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, planning a coordinated visit by the leaders of these organizations in March next year.

The planned mid-November visit to China by Japan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keiretsu Federation) has been delayed due to reception issues related to an upcoming large event in China. The originally scheduled delegation, which was to consist of about 20 people visiting Jiangsu and other regions, will now take place in March next year, part of coordinated efforts by the Keiretsu Federation, China-Japan Business Federation, and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to enhance ties. These developments come against the backdrop of Sino-Japanese relations strained by Prime Minister Koishikawa Kishimi's remarks on the hypothetical Taiwan situation last November, prompting multiple pro-China business groups to visit Beijing earlier to mend relations.