南方财经全媒体记者李依农 上海报道

Founded in 1858, Marubeni Corporation is one of Japan's largest trading companies (sogo shosha) with more than 160 years of history. As one of the first foreign companies to enter China in the 1970s, Marubeni has continued to cultivate the Chinese market since 1972, and has established branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other places one after another.

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In an exclusive interview with SFC Markets and Finance, Toshio Shinoda, Executive Officer and Regional CEO for China of Marubeni Corporation said that Marubeni remains bullish on the Chinese market and is willing to grow and develop together with such a large market as China.

"An open Chinese market will provide more opportunities for companies from all over the world to develop here," Shinoda added.

Looking forward, Shinoda said Marubeni will continue to play to its strengths, further promote Sino-Japanese economic exchanges and make unremitting efforts to deepen economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan.

"Japan has not only contributed to China's economic development, but has also enjoyed the dividends of China's rapid growth," said Shinoda.

Marubeni remains bullish on the Chinese market

SFC Markets and Finance: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (SHFTZ). As a foreign company with a long history in China, Marubeni has witnessed the development of SHFTZ. How do you see the development of SHFTZ over the past 10 years?

Toshio Shinoda: In 1993, Marubeni Group established a wholly owned trading company, Marubeni (Shanghai) Co., in Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone which was the predecessor of today's SHFTZ. Leveraging the preferential policies of the Free Trade Zone, we have achieved a rapid growth in the scale of trade in China.

During the 10 years since its establishment, SHFTZ, bearing its original objectives in mind, has taken measures of "abolition", "reform", and "establishment". That is, the abolition of systems that do not comply with international general rules, the reforming of the administrative approval system, the customs control system, and the enterprise registration system. At the same time, new basic systems and regulatory models that conform to international investment and trade rules have been established. Numerous replicable, applicable, and effective policies have been incubated by SHFTZ and the relevant results have been generalized to the whole China in which SHFTZ has fully played its role as a testing ground for new ideas.

Surely, we do not want to miss the next new round of reform. So as a company that has been developing hand in hand with SHFTZ, Marubeni will continue to pay close attention to SHFTZ's new policies.

SFC Markets and Finance: The SHFTZ is an example of China's opening up to the outside world. But apart from it, are you impressed by any other China's opening-up initiatives?

Toshio Shinoda: The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Shanghai in 2018.

Held at the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, it was a major initiative for China to deepen its open-door policy and open its market to the world as an importing power. It provides an excellent platform for the world to introduce their technologies and products into China.

I always have new discoveries and surprises every time I go to the expo, I have been very impressed by it.

SFC Markets and Finance: This year marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. Over the past 45 years, China has maintained a high level of openness to the outside world. What does China that has been expanding opening up mean to foreign companies?

Toshio Shinoda: China has been adhering to a high-standard opening up to the outside world during the past 45 years. An open Chinese market will provide more opportunities for companies from all over the world to develop here. China has a complete industrial chain and supply chain.

Marubeni remains bullish on the Chinese market and is willing to grow and develop together with such a large market as China.

China continues to improve and optimize the business environment

SFC Markets and Finance: In the face of the ever-opening Chinese market and an increasingly improved business environment, for foreign companies like Marubeni, what are their confidence and vision for their development in China?

Toshio Shinoda: China continues to improve and optimize the business environment and keeps promoting high-quality development with the strategy of innovation-driven development. This has boosted the confidence of foreign companies in China's economic development prospects.

We have been confident in China's development prospects. China is also one of the most important markets for the Marubeni Group. The Group has developed a strategy to develop its key business in China. We will increase our investment in the Chinese market and constantly cultivate the Chinese market.

SFC Markets and Finance: China's economy has entered a stage of high-quality development. As a company that has been deeply involved in the Chinese market for years, what areas will Marubeni focus on?

Toshio Shinoda: Under the context of China's continued high quality economic development, Marubeni has identified three areas as our current focus areas in China.

The first area of focus is to prepare for the diversification of people's lifestyles. We also plan to expand trade in materials and raw materials for that. The second focus area is to respond to social issues. The third is to focus on cooperation with local Chinese business organizations and the expansion of third-party market.

SFC Markets and Finance: You have a strong connection to China. You were relocated to China early in the 1990s, and also had several long-term assignments to Shanghai. How do you feel about China, and are there any unforgettable memories here?

Toshio Shinoda: In 1992, I was sent to China by the head office to work in the Nanjing office of Marubeni Co. That was how I was involved with China. During the 30 years, I was in charge of the group's operations in China, I have witnessed the whole process of China's economic development. As someone who grew up with China, I have a deep affection for China both in business as well as life. Work-wise, I have built strong friendships with many business partners, and we share many unforgettable memories together. I have also become close with my Chinese employees during my work and personal life in Shanghai.

China and Japan have formed a win-win relationship

SFC Markets and Finance: You have also been witnessing the development of Sino-Japanese relations. In 2023, the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan enters its 51st year. As the General Representative of a Japanese general trading company in China, what do you think of the Sino-Japanese trade and economic relations in the past 50 years?

Toshio Shinoda: In the past 50 years, the trade volume between China and Japan has expanded from the initial USD 1 billion to USD 370 billion today. China has become Japan's number one export destination.

With the investment in China, Japan has not only contributed to China's economic development, but has also enjoyed the dividends of China's rapid growth. We've formed a win-win relationship of interdependence.

SFC Markets and Finance: Taking Marubeni as an example, how can Japanese companies contribute to the further deepening of cooperation and exchanges between China and Japan? What role can they play?

Toshio Shinoda: The world is currently witnessing an industrial revolution and technological change characterized by green and low-carbon technologies. Green and low-carbon transformation has become a major trend in economic and social development. Under such context, China has proposed the "double carbon" target to accelerate the green and low-carbon transformation.

Marubeni Group has also proposed a green strategy to accelerate the transformation of traditional business, improve technological innovation capabilities, optimize production and operation arrangement, and remold the value chain.

Marubeni has accumulated rich experience in green, low-carbon and recycling development and technological capabilities. We would like to actively participate in the optimization and upgrading of China's industrial structure and the green and low-carbon economic transformation, taking advantage of our strength, so as to jointly seize the great opportunities of China's economic and social development.

策划：陈晨星 于晓娜

监制：施诗

责任编辑：和佳 

记者：李依农

剪辑：实习生焦宇

拍摄：郝佳琪 实习生焦宇 

新媒体统筹：丁青云 曾婷芳 赖禧 黄达迅

海外运营监制: 黄燕淑

海外运营内容统筹: 张然 

海外运营编辑：唐双艳 吴婉婕

海外项目经理：庄欢

海外商务合作: 黄子豪

出品：南方财经全媒体集团

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