On the morning of February 25, 2025, the Urban Renewal Seminar organized by ANBOUND was concluded on the 6th floor of Bund No. 22, Shanghai. The event was supported by Shanghai Lingang Economic Development Co., Ltd. (Lingang Group) and Shanghai SMI Holding Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Chengtou), along with Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board affiliated to Shang Municipal Commission of Commerce.
Senior executives from main companies under Mitsubishi brand and trademark, officials from Shanghai's municipal and district governments, and leaders from state-owned enterprises headquartered in Shanghai, were invited to participate in the discussions. The topics focused on the challenges of urban development in Shanghai and public policy issues, covering improving the business environment, new drivers of consumption, green market opportunities, senior-friendly community renovation, real estate development, as well as financial and insurance matters. It also shared Japan's innovative ideas, real-world case studies, and management expertise while exploring public-private partnerships that involve collaboration in talent, capital, and technology, offering an example of sustainable growth. This event also aimed to strengthen Sino-Japan economic and investment cooperation, contributing to Shanghai's future development.
The seminar was co-chaired by Yi Wang, ANBOUND's Head of Global Development Program, and Takahiro Sekido, ANBOUND's Japan Practice Advisor and a former official of the Bank of Japan.
Yi Wang, ANBOUND's Head of Global Development Program
Takahiro Sekido, ANBOUND's Japan Advisor and a former official of the Bank of Japan
At the beginning of the seminar, ANBOUND's founder Kung Chan pointed out that while the scale and demand of the global market remain, the market system is rapidly disintegrating. "The world's market system is undergoing structural reshaping, ushering a heroic age reminiscent of the time of Catherine the Great, where the core of competition is returning to national interests, the essence of transactions, and individual competitiveness", noted Kung Chan. In the face of this historic transformation, both governments and businesses must swiftly adjust their strategic layouts to adapt to the profound changes in the global market landscape. He further emphasized that China and Japan, as major beneficiaries of globalization, are facing unprecedented challenges. Japan has built a global economic circulation system through overseas investment, while China still relies on export markets. Against the backdrop of the retreat of globalization, China needs to accelerate the promotion of its domestic circulation strategy and adapt urban renewal as a breakthrough to drive the transformation and upgrading of its economic growth model.
ANBOUND's founder Kung Chan
He Dongbin, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, stated that China and Japan have a long history of economic cooperation with remarkable achievements, particularly in the field of urban renewal. Japanese companies, with their advanced concepts and technologies, have provided valuable experience for urban development in Shanghai and across the country. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to ANBOUND for their significant efforts in meticulously organizing the seminar and emphasized that the event has established an efficient, open, and pragmatic platform for communication in Shanghai.
He Dongbin, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce
Wakaki Takamasa, the Regional Executive Vice-President for China at Mitsubishi Corp, and Sun Meng, Vice President of Shanghai Lingang Economic Development, respectively delivered opening remarks.
Wakaki Takamasa, Executive Vice-President for Mitsubishi Corp (China)
Sun Meng, Vice President of Shanghai Lin-gang Economic Development Group
During the keynote session, Yuki Ichiro, President of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance (China), delivered a focused address on disaster prevention, mitigation measures, and business continuity management. He emphasized, "In light of climate change and the growing threats posed by natural disasters, our objective is to establish a resilient society capable of withstanding such challenges. Through maximizing all the advantages and resources, we are committed to collaborative efforts in disaster prevention and mitigation".
Yuki Ichiro, President of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance (China)
Mitsugu Kaneko, East Asia Representative of ENEOS Corp, and Tamai Takeshi, Director& Executive Vice President of Mitsubishi Electric (China), shared their insights on driving low-carbon energy efficiency in cities through smart technologies and green energy. They highlighted the critical paths to sustainable urban development, emphasizing the optimization of energy structures and the intelligent upgrading of industries as key strategies.
Mitsugu Kaneko, East Asia Representative of ENEOS Corp
Tamai Takeshi, Executive Vice President of Mitsubishi Electric (China)
Wang Zhan, Chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations and Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Urban Renewal Expert Committee, drew on his own research to reflect on the development of Shanghai over the past four decades. He reviewed typical cases such as land leasing in China, the development of Pudong, and the governance of the Huangpu River.
Wang Zhan, Chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations and Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Urban Renewal Expert Committee
Hasegawa Yoshiki, President of MUFG Bank (China) and Managing Executive Officer at MUFG Bank, discussed issues related to aging-friendly renovations and urban elderly care services. He highlighted that MUFG Bank has introduced personalized financial services for the elderly to help prevent their financial losses, utilizing AI and technological solutions to address labor shortages. He suggested that, as a leading city in China, Shanghai could draw on Japan's efforts in responding to an aging society to ensure that its elderly population can enjoy a healthy and fulfilling retirement. He also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to collaboratively engage in policy discussions with ANBOUND.
Hasegawa Yoshiki, President of MUFG Bank (China), Managing Executive Officer at MUFG Bank
Tamatsuka Masaya, General Manager of Mitsubishi Jisho Design (Shanghai), provided an in-depth analysis of the experiences and insights gained from the 130-year urban renewal of Marunouchiin Tokyo. He emphasized that the development of mega-city clusters relies not only on industrial upgrading and spatial optimization but also on promoting sustainable development to address global economic changes and environmental challenges. He stated that Mitsubishi Jisho Design looks forward to collaborating with Shanghai to help the city build a more resilient and competitive international metropolis.
Tamatsuka Masaya, General Manager of Mitsubishi Jisho Design (Shanghai)
On the afternoon following the seminar, the delegation of Mitsubishi, invited by Lingang Group, conducted an on-site visit to its new area, including Dishuiyun Hall Planning Exhibition Center, the Japanese SME industrial park, the Reinsurance Center, and the modern service industry exhibition hall. There are a string of high-quality properties, prime industrial environment, and dynamic urban ecosystem of the Lin-gang New Area.
Having the experience of strategic policy research for over three decades, ANBOUND believes that high-level openness is not only an essential component of quality development but also a key approach to achieving Chinese-style modernization. High-quality urban construction and development are an inevitable requirement in this. The global economy and technological advancements shape the urbanization process, while Chinese cities follow their own distinctive trajectory. In this evolving landscape, identifying key leverage points is essential. Urban renewal stands as a pivotal opportunity for the future. A more refined approach to urban renewal is urgently needed, as it directly impacts local economic growth, the promotion of full employment, and the enhancement of public welfare and social stability. This Urban Renewal Seminar aims to offer valuable insights to support the advancement of related initiatives and policy solutions for Shanghai city.
Shanghai, as a unique international metropolis, is a major window through which the world observes China. It is hoped that this event will contribute to advancing the city's high-level openness, promoting China-Japan economic and trade cooperation, deepening global business connections between two nations, and opening new avenues for Shanghai's future development.
