Choi Tae-won Discusses Cooperation on '2030 Busan World Expo' with Japanese Expo Officials

Discussion on Strategies for Hosting the '2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo'

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (left), met with Matsumoto Masayoshi, Chairman of the Kansai Economic Federation, in Tokyo, Japan, on the 15th to discuss the bid for the '2030 Busan World Expo.'

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, met with key figures from the Japan International Exposition to discuss cooperation plans related to the bid for the '2030 Busan World Expo.'

From the 15th for two days, Chairman Choi held meetings in Tokyo with Matsumoto Masayoshi, Vice Chairman of the '2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo' Promotion Committee, and key officials from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) of Japan.

Matsumoto Masayoshi, Vice Chairman of the Promotion Committee, is also the Chairman of the Kansai Economic Federation (currently Chairman of Sumitomo Electric Industries). He is known for leading regional businesspeople during the early stages of the bid when interest in the Expo was low, significantly contributing to the Expo becoming a national priority.

The Osaka-Kansai Expo was finally selected as the host site in November 2018 after fierce competition with Russia (Yekaterinburg) and Azerbaijan (Baku). It will be held from April to October 2025. With the successful hosting of the 2025 Expo, Japan will have hosted its fifth Expo, following two registered Expos and two recognized Expos.

Chairman Matsumoto said, "The Osaka Expo started under the leadership of local governments and faced many difficulties in the early stages of the bid promotion," adding, "In contrast, Korea is promoting it as a national project from the beginning, and especially large corporations are actively participating in the bid activities, so I expect significant promotional effects."

Chairman Choi responded, "It is important that the Osaka Expo does not end with the conclusion of the 2025 event but connects through to Busan," emphasizing, "We will create a new type of Expo that continuously shares and seeks solutions to common human themes across generations and borders every five years, rather than having interruptions."

During the meeting, ways to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Japan and expand private exchanges between the two countries' economic organizations were also discussed. The following day, Chairman Choi met with key officials from Japan's BIE administrative department to request active support for the 2030 Busan Expo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.