China shows cultural depth at Osaka expo

The China Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, opened on Sunday as the expo began welcoming visitors for its monthslong run, striking notes that well echo the message delivered a day earlier by Japanese Emperor Naruhito: a sustainable future for mankind.

This year's expo, themed "Designing Future Society for Our Lives", is drawing participation from 158 countries and regions and seven international organizations.

Ren Hongbin, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the China Pavilion offers a good illustration of the theme, incorporating three major elements of Chinese culture — bamboo, Chinese characters, and scrolls.

Speaking at the pavilion's opening, Ren said the Chinese exhibition follows a narrative structure of "past-present-future", allowing visitors to experience ancient Chinese philosophies of harmony between humanity and nature, appreciate the beauty of modern China with its clear waters and green mountains, and envision a future society where people and nature coexist in harmony.

"Today's world, like the expo site, should be a vibrant garden of peace, friendship, sincere exchange, mutual learning and flourishing diversity. International cooperation should be guided by the spirit of equal consultation and mutual benefit, actively promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive and beneficial globalization."

At the expo's opening ceremony on Saturday, Naruhito said he sincerely hopes that Expo 2025 Osaka "will serve as an opportunity for people around the world to respect not only their own lives but also the lives of those around them and the various forms of life that exist in nature, and to be inspired to work together to create a sustainable future".

He also expressed the hope that through this expo, children will deepen their understanding of countries, regions and people around the world, and by experiencing next-generation technologies and global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, they will begin to think about the future of society.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that in a post-pandemic world of division, it is extremely meaningful for people from around the globe to come together, discuss the theme of life, and be exposed to cutting-edge technology, diverse ways of thinking and cultures.

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao said on Sunday that he hopes visitors to the expo will gain a deeper understanding of China's 5,000-year-old civilization as well as the vibrant image of modern China — a nation that is friendly, enterprising and open.

"No matter how the external environment changes, China's door of openness will only open wider," Wu said.

Powerful message

Dimitri Kerkentzes, secretary-general of the Bureau International des Expositions — the organization responsible for overseeing World Expos — said the China Pavilion sends a powerful message calling on people to work together and live in harmony with nature and with each other as members of the global community.

"With this magnificent bamboo-inspired pavilion, China is presenting its vision of building a community of life for man and nature within a future society of green development," he said.

Running through Oct 13, the expo is expected to draw about 28 million visitors, said the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition.

Masakazu Tokura, chairman of the association, expressed hope that the expo would serve as a catalyst for new connections and innovations.

He encouraged friends from China to seize the opportunity to engage deeply with global visitors, inspire one another, and work together to create a blueprint for a "future society that shines with life".

Tokura, who is also chairman of the Japan Business Federation, said China is one of Japan's most important bilateral partners. The federation will actively support efforts to foster healthy, stable Japan-China relations, especially in economic exchange and cooperation.

The expo is "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to bring together people, cultures, ideas and values from around the world to create a greater future society, he said.