On November 12, 2013, the Josai Center for Innovation hosted the 4th Annual Japan-China Financial Management Forum at the Tokyo Kioicho Campus with Japan-China Economic Association President Executive Iwao Okamoto giving a keynote lecture titled, “The State and Future Prospects of Japan-China Economic Relations.” The forum was scheduled for the week following both organizations’ China visit and attracted a great number of participants from both within and outside the university.

Mr. Okamoto presented a variety of data to address five different subjects in his lecture: “The Scope of China’s Economic Presence in the Global Market,” “The Remarkable Background Behind China’s Economic Growth Restrictions,” “Formulas for Economic Development and the Trend Toward Economic Reform as a Means of Overcoming Restrictions,” “The Deepening of Japan-China Interdependent Economic Relations,” and “Japan’s Economic Recovery and Methods for a Japan-China Strategic Partnership.” During his lecture, Mr. Okamoto said, “Since last year, the state of Japan-China political relations have worsened. However, for Japan and the Abe-nomics plan of economic recovery alike, financial exchange and stable expansion with China constitutes the core of Japan-China strategic interdependent relations. The promotion of business exchange provides ample opportunity for the rebuilding of relations between the two nations.” Not adhering strictly to business, Mr. Okamoto also spoke of the possibility of building cooperative relations through cultural exchange, caregiving, environmental maintenance, and other fields.

A Q&A session followed the lecture, during which a lively discussion ensued regarding the importance of exchange amongst young people and other topics.