Invitation Program for Chinese University Students
July 29 - August 2, 2024
In 2024, the exchange program was conducted over a five-day period. Mr. Xie Zhigen, Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries led the delegation, which included students from South China University of Technology, Jinan University, and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.
The theme of this year’s program was “Disaster Preparedness and Responses of Japanese Companies” and the program included sessions on the advanced activities of Japanese companies in relation to disaster prevention and mitigation. In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, including typhoons and heavy rainfall, partly caused by climate change. In Japan, large-scale earthquakes have also been occurring frequently and the issue of how to prepare and respond to them has become a matter of urgent concern. Through visits to Japanese companies and various facilities, the participants learned about disaster prevention and mitigation strategies and engaged in discussions on the topic.
The group visited Mori Building Co., Ltd., LY corporation, SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN CO., LTD., MS&AD InterRisk Research & Consulting Inc., and Keidanren to deepen their understanding on specific initiatives, such as preparations to accept people who have difficulty returning home, the use of IT in disseminating information during disasters, support for the reconstruction of disaster-striken areas, and practices to develop, implement and maintain business continuity plans (BCPs). They further broadened their knowledge by visiting the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel which protects towns from flooding by temporarily storing water and releasing it into the river during torrential rain. They also visited a facility where people can experience flooding and earthquakes.
During the exchange of opinions, many questions about disaster countermeasures that are unique to Japan were raised and a lively discussion about the differences and similarities between Japan and China, including the dissemination of information about disaster countermeasures, was held. The participants discovered the importance of self-help and mutual assistance and the significance of preparing for disasters in advance. They concluded that they will make use of what they learned in Japan and that the two countries should cooperate in disaster prevention measures. Mr. Xie stated, “Companies play a major role in the event of a large-scale disaster, and I was impressed by the fact that Japanese companies are carrying out educational activities and training on a regular basis. I hope that China and Japan will continue to deepen their exchange in disaster response and enhance their disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities.”
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2023
July 28, 2023
Since 2015, KKC has been conducting an exchange program inviting students selected from universities in Guangdong province to Japan in cooperation with the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries．Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was held online from 2020 to 2022, but this year, three university students from Guangdong University of Technology, Jinan University, and South China Normal University were invited to Japan. They visited companies and organizations such as Teijin, Panasonic, Asahi Group HD, “Green Lawson”, Mizuho Bank and Keidanren and learned about the environmental initiatives for the future of Japanese companies.
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2022 (Online)
December 16, 2022
Keizai Koho Center held an online exchange meeting titled “Corporate Efforts for the Future of Healthcare”, in cooperation with the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Guangdong Education Agency. Around 100 Chinese university students from Jinan University, Guangdong University of Technology, and South China Normal University participated in the meeting and exchanged opinions.
Mr. Kenichiro Asano, Representative Director of the Social Health Strategy Research Institute (SHSRI), explained that the promotion of corporate health management and the strengthening of health businesses led by the government will help revitalize the healthcare market and counter the aging society.
Mr. Takaki Koizumi, Group Director of the Global Branding Group of Calbee, Inc. stated that their company is focusing on efforts to make food healthier, for example by reducing carbohydrates.
Ms. Hiroko Washizu, Head of the Natural Lawson Product Development Department, introduced how they have set “10 health themes” such as reduced salt intake, and their efforts in developing products according to market needs.
Lastly, Professor Xiyang Wu of Jinan University gave a lecture on China’s probiotics business and food safety.
Students actively asked questions throughout the program which provided an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding between Japan and China. Since 2015, KKC has been conducting an exchange program inviting students selected from universities in Guangdong province to Japan in cooperation with the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Since COVID-19 made it difficult to continue the in-person exchange program, KKC has held online programs since 2020.
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2021 (Online)
December 16, 2021
Keizai Koho Center held an online exchange meeting “Corporate Initiatives for Climate Change”, with the cooperation of the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Guangdong Education Agency. Around 60 Chinese university students from Jinan University, Guangdong University of Technology, and South China Normal University participated and exchanged opinions.
At the meeting, Mr. Hayato Sunaga, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) introduced the efforts toward the realization of carbon neutrality. Mr. Ryuji Shimono of Panasonic Corporation and Mr. Shuichi Osaki of Teijin Limited each gave a presentation on their company’s approach to the theme. In addition, Zeng Xuelan, Professor of the Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering and Director of the Research Center for Coping with Climate Change of GDUT (Guangdong University of Technology), explained how China is thinking about climate change and how to deal with it.
Since 2015, KKC has been conducting an exchange program inviting students selected from universities in Guangdong province to Japan in cooperation with the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Since COVID-19 made it difficult to continue the in-person exchange program, KKC held online programs in 2020 and 2021.
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2020 (Online)
December 14, 2020
Since 2015, Keizai Koho Center, in cooperation with the Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, has been conducting an exchange program inviting students selected from universities in Guangdong province to Japan.
In 2020, KKC decided to hold an online program to continue the exchange between Japan and China, as travel became difficult due to COVID-19. On December 14, KKC held an online meeting on “Corporate Management for the Creation of a Sustainable Society” inviting Chinese university students, around 50 of them, from Jinan University, Guangdong University of Technology and Guangzhou University, in cooperation with Guangdong People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Guangdong Education Agency. At the meeting, Mr. Masao Seki, Chair of Task Force on Keidanren’s Charter of Corporate Behavior/Senior Advisor on CSR, Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc., Mr. Takahiro Suzuki, Director of the CSR Department of Aeon Co., Ltd. and Ms. Liu Yue, Senior General Manager of the Sustainability Office of OMRON Corporation made presentations.
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2019
July 22-26, 2019
In 2019, six university students from Lingnan (University) College, Sun Yat-sen University, South China Normal University, South China University of Technology, Jinan University, Guangdong University of Technology and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies participated in the program. They visited Kao, Oki Electric Industry and AEON, and heard the explanation from The All Japan Business Committee for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics (FUJITSU, NTT) and The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The students learned about the efforts of Japanese companies and organizations toward a barrier-free society, urban development, and universal design.
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2018
July 30-August 3, 2018
In 2018, eight university students from Sun Yat-sen University, Jinan University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, South China Agricultural University, South China Normal University, and Guangdong University of Finance and Economics participated in the program. They visited Panasonic, SECOM, Tokyo Metro, LIXIL, ASICS and the Tokyo Fire Department to learn about their efforts toward the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020 Convention).
Invitation Program for Chinese University Students 2017
August 1-5, 2017
In 2017, 8 university students from Minzu University of China (Beijing), China Youth University of Political Studies (Beijing), Tongji University (Shanghai), Shanghai Normal University (Shanghai), Sun Yat-sen University (Guangdong) and South China Agricultural University (Guangdong) participated in the program. They visited companies and organizations including Mitsubishi Estate, Lawson, Fuji Electric, Tokyu Corporation, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Good Job Attractions and Yomiuri Land. The students were warmly welcomed at each visit and learned about the cutting edge technologies and business strategies of Japanese corporations.