(Foreign envoys talk about Jilin) Katae Xuesi: The cooperation between Japan and Jilin is diverse
China News Service, Shenyang, January 16 (Reporter Li Yanguo Guo Jia) "Jilin Province is a huge market with a population of 27 million. Japan attaches great importance to trade cooperation with Jilin Province, and both parties have the potential for cooperation and development in various fields. "When it comes to the prospects of economic and trade exchanges between Japan and Jilin Province, Katae is very confident.
At the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang, Katae Xuemi was recently interviewed by a reporter from Chinanews.com.
The Japanese consul general in Shenyang, who has been in office for just over a year, has known Jilin, a northeastern province of China, for a long time.
"In the 1980s, when I was studying Chinese in China, I visited Changchun. Considering the current changes in China, my impression of Jilin Province at that time is no longer meaningful."
After serving as the Japanese Consul General in Shenyang, Katae has visited Jilin Province five times and has a new definition of the local impression.
"Jilin has a colorful culture, is an important grain producing area such as corn, and has unique tourism resources such as Changbai Mountain. It has attracted a large number of Japanese companies to invest in the automotive industry and other fields."
Looking back, it can be seen that Japanese companies started investing in Jilin Province in 1985.
As Katae said, in recent years, more and more Japanese-funded enterprises have seen the development potential of Jilin Province and have increased their investment.
According to Japanese statistics, as of October 2020, there are about 100 Japanese-funded enterprises in Jilin Province.
Katae Xuemi said that rich Japanese talent resources, high-level university education resources and outstanding talents, high-quality partners such as China FAW Group, and direct flights to Japan are also factors that attract Japanese-funded enterprises to Jilin Province. important factor in investing.
As an important window for China's "Belt and Road" to open to the north, Jilin Province has been expanding foreign cooperation year by year.
According to data released by the Jilin Provincial Department of Commerce, in 2020, the province's actual utilization of foreign capital increased by 9.4% year-on-year, and foreign direct investment increased by 11.2% year-on-year.
These changes have also allowed the Japanese side to see the possibility of participating in more cooperation.
In 2021, the Consulate General of Japan in Shenyang will undertake the construction and participation of the Japan Pavilion at the 13th China-Northeast Asia Expo.
Katae Xuemi said that through the platform of China's national brand exhibition held in Jilin Province, Japanese products, technologies and the charm of all parts of Japan have been well displayed.
2022 is the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, and Katae also expressed the need to strengthen exchanges with Jilin Province in tourism, education, culture, sports, pension and welfare and other fields.
"In order to further understand each other's culture and tourism situation, even when personnel exchanges are affected by the epidemic, we should continue to carry out online communication activities. Combining Japan's mature experience in elderly care and welfare with China's huge market, and complementing each other's advantages, there will be great benefits. Great cooperation possibilities and development space." Katae said.
Jilin Province and Japan's Miyagi, Tottori and Shimane prefectures are sister cities.
"Since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, many local governments and private enterprises in Japan and China have supported each other with medical supplies. 'The mountains and rivers are different, the wind and the moon are the same day' has moved many people very much." Katae Xuemi did not forget to invite friends from Jilin, "When the epidemic is over, Afterwards, please come to Japan to travel, conduct business activities, study abroad, etc., to experience the charm of various parts of Japan.” (End)