Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Send Delegation to China

Amid ongoing deterioration in Japan-China relations, Kyodo News reported on the 15th, citing multiple sources, that the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), commonly known as 'Nissho,' will independently dispatch a delegation to China. The visit is scheduled from June 21 to 24, 2024, with the delegation traveling to Beijing to assess the economic landscape.

Originally, JCCI had planned to visit Beijing jointly with the Japan-China Economic Association and the Japan Business Federation in January 2024, but the trip was postponed. This independent visit is seen as an effort by the private economic sector to maintain dialogue amid strained bilateral ties.

The delegation plans to hold talks with major Chinese e-commerce companies and inspect cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) enterprises. The visit coincides with the 'China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo,' held in Beijing from June 22 to 26, 2024. Approximately 20 executives from Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expected to participate.

JCCI is an organization that supports local chambers of commerce across Japan, whose members primarily consist of SMEs. This visit also serves as part of its efforts to support international expansion for these SMEs.

Following the postponement of the January visit, the Japan-China Economic Association sent a delegation of around 30 members from manufacturing and trading companies to China in May. They visited Shanghai and Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province to observe front-line developments in robotics research and application.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) had planned to visit Beijing from June 21 to 24, but the trip was postponed following the passing of JETRO's chairman, Yohei Kono, on June 8.

Japan-China relations have rapidly deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takagi made her 'Taiwan contingency' remarks in November 2023, leading to stagnation not only in governmental ministerial dialogues but also in economic and cultural exchanges between the two nations.