Expo 2025 Osaka opens; China Pavilion debuts

Overview

The 2025 World Exposition, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, held its opening ceremony on April 12 and opened to the public on April 13. It runs for 184 days until October 13 and is the first comprehensive world expo in Osaka in 55 years, since 1970. According to Xinhua, 158 countries and regions and seven international organizations are taking part. The venue is Yumeshima, an artificial island of about 155 hectares in western Osaka, and around 28 million visitors are expected.

The China Pavilion held its opening ceremony on April 13. Covering about 3,500 square meters, it is described as one of the largest foreign self-built pavilions at the Expo.

Background

The theme of the Expo is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." At the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described the Expo as a mirror of its era and a platform for gathering wisdom from around the world, stressing the significance of its focus on life. Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions, expressed hope that participants would work together toward a sustainable future.

Shenzhen and Osaka have maintained exchanges since signing a cooperation memorandum in 2018. On March 30, China Southern Airlines resumed its Shenzhen–Osaka route after about five years, improving travel links ahead of the Expo.

Osaka last hosted a comprehensive world expo in 1970, and this is the first since then. Yumeshima is an artificial island facing Osaka Bay, and in addition to national and regional pavilions, companies and organizations are also presenting exhibits during the Expo.

Key Points

Item	Details
Period	April 13 to October 13, 2025 (184 days)
Participants	158 countries and regions, 7 international organizations
Venue	Yumeshima, Osaka (about 155 hectares)
Expected visitors	About 28 million
China Pavilion	About 3,500 square meters, opened April 13

The China Pavilion is organized into three zones themed on harmony between humanity and nature, green mountains and clear waters, and the continuous renewal of life. It presents traditional Chinese views of nature alongside efforts in environmental protection and technological innovation.

What It Means for Japan–Shenzhen Exchange

According to the Shenzhen municipal government, trade between Shenzhen and Japan reached about 26.4 billion US dollars in 2024, up 16.4% year on year. Cumulative Japanese investment in Shenzhen exceeds 3.8 billion dollars, while Shenzhen's investment in Japan totals 430 million dollars. Against this background, the Expo is likely to give Shenzhen companies and public bodies a chance to meet Japanese businesses and visitors directly.

The China Pavilion will host a series of regional activity weeks. Shenzhen is the only prefecture-level city among the provincial-level activity weeks and plans to open its own "Shenzhen Activity Week" on May 12. Attention is focused on how Shenzhen companies will present themselves in areas that overlap with the Expo's themes, such as green energy, smart living and smart healthcare. For Japanese companies, it may also offer an opportunity to learn about Shenzhen's industrial trends without leaving Japan.

The Expo brings together technology and culture from many countries and regions, and for companies it is also a chance to show new technologies and products directly to visitors. The China Pavilion and other national pavilions have scheduled business exchanges and cultural events during the Expo period, and together with exchange programs organized by Japanese local governments and business associations, many business meetings and contacts are expected.

The number of overseas visitors, including from China, is also expected to rise during the Expo, with likely spillover effects for tourism, retail and transport in Kansai. With direct Shenzhen–Osaka flights restored, attention is also turning to how much easier it has become for business people and residents from Shenzhen to visit the Expo.

Outlook

The Expo continues until October 13, and regional activity weeks will be held in turn at the China Pavilion. Shenzhen's week begins on May 12, with exchange events between companies and organizations from Shenzhen and Osaka also planned. Visitor numbers and the results of business meetings and exchanges held through national pavilions will become clearer over the course of the Expo.

From the Association

The Expo is a valuable opportunity for people from different countries and regions to meet. The Association will follow related developments, including Shenzhen's activity week, and will continue to share information and provide a platform for exchange between companies and organizations from Shenzhen and Japan.