Preamble
In 2023, Japan and China marked the 45th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between
Japan and China. At the meeting between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Xi Jinping in November 2023, thetwo countries reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensively promote "strategic mutually beneficial relations" andbilateral relations entered a new phase of development. In January 2024, a delegation of over 200 representatives of three
economic organizations visited Beijing to meet with Premier Li Qiang. Against this backdrop, we hope that mutual exchange
between Japan and China will become even more active, leading to further economic development of both countries.
Today, China's GDP is four times that of Japan, and the investment environment for Japanese companies is changing
drastically. China is no longer just a manufacturing and consumption powerhouse, but has become an innovation andengineering powerhouse, and winning in the fast-paced and highly competitive Chinese market is to serve as a training
center to enhance its competitiveness in the international market. According to a survey conducted by the JapaneseChamber of Commerce and Industry in China among its member companies, more than 50% of them consider China tobe the most important market or one of the three most important markets in view of China's economic development. TheChinese market is becoming even more important for Japanese companies.
The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China has been publishing this White Paper since 2010 to promotefurther dialogue with the central government and local governments in China. This White Paper is a summary of theproposals for analyzing and solving the issues faced by Japanese member companies of the Japanese Chamber ofCommerce and Industry in China and other chambers of commerce and industry throughout China (a total of 8,312
corporate members). It is divided into 4 sections: “Current Status of the Chinese Economy and Japanese Companies”,“Common Issues and Proposals”, “Current Status of Each Industry and Proposals” and “Current State of Each Region andProposals” and consisting of 27 chapters and 569 proposals. What is depicted in the White Paper is nothing, but the statusof the Chinese economy seen through the eyes of Japanese companies and highlighted various issues encountered in theprocess of doing business in China by Japanese companies that have been engaging in business in China for a long periodof time.
At the 2nd meeting of the 14th National People’s Congress held in March 2024, it was indicated that the government will
focus on promoting high-quality development, fully deepen reform and opening, and further focus on attracting and utilizing
foreign investment. Securing “Non-Discriminatory Status”, which is the main request point of this White Paper, is thefoundation for realizing above-mentioned goals and is indispensable for China to improve the quality of development. I am
convinced that when the Chinese government seeks to deepen reforms, many points that are included in this White Paper
will be beneficial.
In the reform and opening of Chinese economy, the importance of foreign capital is immeasurable, and the roles played
by Japanese companies are extremely important. In recent years, with the increasing uncertainty about the circumstances
surrounding the world, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China will take over the achievement of its
predecessors, further strengthening the economic cooperation relationship between Japan and China and will continue toactively propose to the China’s central government and local governments to further improve the business environment inChina. We hope that the Embassy of Japan in China and its diplomatic missions in various parts of China will deepen
exchanges at various levels between Japan and China in light of various issues in the business environment faced by
Japanese companies and promote strategic mutually beneficial relations.
This White Paper is made up with precious contributions that member companies of the Japanese Chamber of Commerceand Industry in China provided us while engaging in their own work. This White Paper reflects the opinions gathered notonly from the Chamber, but also from other chambers of commerce and industry throughout China. I would like to take thisopportunity to express our sincere appreciation for all those who have made a great contribution.
I sincerely hope that through this White Paper, it shall facilitate dialogues between Japan and China and strengthen thebond of the two countries, thus leading to further prosperity together.

Tetsuro Homma
Chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China