Keizai Koho Center organized a study mission to Shanghai to provide its member corporations the opportunity to learn about the media and the current economic situation in China, and to build relationships with Chinese media. In cooperation with the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the program has been held every year since 2013, aiming to promote mutual understanding among Chinese and Japanese companies and a stronger relationship.

In 2018, ANA Holdings, Shimizu Corporation, Panasonic, Hitachi and MIZUNO joined the program. The participants made a courtesy call on the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipality. They also had a meeting with Chinese media including Jiefang Daily, Eastday and Shanghai Daily. At Shanghai Municipal Commerce Development Research Center, the Director Fellow explained the recent situation of Chinese economy such as consumption trends in China to the participants. A visit to Hema supermarket was also arranged to see a new retail style in China. They visited Suning, which acquired Laox in Japan in 2009, to learn about their brand strategy. DeepBlue Technology, a startup company in Shanghai, showed the participants their latest technology including a self-driving vehicle, AI robots and biometrics authentication.