Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to visit Osaka Expo
YUKIO TAJIMA
BEIJING -- China's Vice Premier He Lifeng is expected to travel to Japan this week where he will visit Expo 2025, which is currently being held in Osaka, Nikkei has learned.
While there, he is scheduled to hold talks with senior members of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, which is chaired by Yutaka Moriyama, the secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, according to multiple sources familiar with Japan-China relations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yomiuri Shimbun
an hour ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japanese Solar Panel Makers Eye Business Opportunities after Ordinance Mandates Installation on New Houses
Japanese solar panel manufacturers are taking a proactive approach as they see business opportunities following the decision by the Tokyo metropolitan government and the Kawasaki city government to require that newly built houses have solar panels installed in April. Although Chinese manufacturers currently dominate solar panel production, Japanese manufacturers are looking to compete with new products and initiatives. These include new types of solar panels that are better suited to Japanese homes, where securing space for installation is difficult, as well as a system that reduces users' costs. New type of product In late May, Sharp Corp. released a new type of solar panels that can prevent light-related issues by reducing optical reflection. By adopting glass with pebble-grained surfaces, light is diffused and reflected at a level 1/20 to 1/30 that of conventional models. Solar panels are generally placed on the south side of roofs to maximize sunlight exposure. In urban areas, particularly in central parts of big cities, where land is limited, panels are often placed on the north side of roofs. However, since sunlight is reflected at low angles on the north side of roofs, there is a tendency for light to enter nearby houses. Reducing cost burdens In June, Panasonic Corp. introduced a system that enables companies to install solar panels without paying any upfront costs through Osaka Gas Co.'s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) program. Under the program, Osaka Gas owns the solar power generation systems for 15 years from installation and recovers the initial costs by selling the power generated by the systems. During this period, homeowners can purchase electricity from Osaka Gas at discounted rates. Starting in the 16th year, homeowners gain ownership of the solar power generation systems free of charge and can use or sell the electricity produced. According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the average cost of installing solar power generation systems for newly built houses in 2021 was ¥271,000 per kilowatt. This figure rose to ¥286,000 in 2024. The head of Panasonic's sales promotion division said: 'While both installing costs and electricity bills are on the rise, we aim to reduce users' financial burden with the new system.' The government has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by fiscal 2030, compared to fiscal 2013 levels. In order to achieve this goal, the government plans to increase the percentage of newly built homes with solar panels from 36.5% in fiscal 2023 to 60% in fiscal 2030. Progress has been made thus far in terms of the rate of solar panel installations. The number of solar panel systems in homes has nearly doubled, growing from about 1.69 million in fiscal 2013 to about 3.35 million in fiscal 2023. Chinese makers gain strength However, Japanese manufacturers, which were once dominant in solar panel production, are now being pushed aside by Chinese manufacturers who are gaining strength by selling low-priced products. According to the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association, about 97% of solar panels purchased in fiscal 2004 in the nation were made by Japanese makers. But in fiscal 2024, about 94.9% of purchased panels were made by foreign manufacturers. Prof. Yuzuru Ueda of Tokyo University of Science, an expert of engineering studies, said: 'It's difficult to differentiate solar panels made by Chinese manufacturers in the current technological landscape. Japanese manufacturers should leverage their strengths in design and reliability to suit Japan's housing conditions and respond to the needs of clients very thoroughly.'
NHK
an hour ago
- NHK
Japan government to hold task force meeting following Trump tariff letter
The Japanese government is to hold a task force meeting, after President Donald Trump unveiled a letter announcing that the US will charge the country a 25 percent tariff rate starting August 1. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru will attend the meeting. A senior official of Ishiba's government said it views the letter as effectively extending the pause of what the Trump administration calls reciprocal tariffs, which was set to end on Wednesday. The official said the government believes there is still room for negotiation, and that it will continue negotiations with the US with the aim of reaching a deal on a whole package, including auto tariffs.
Nikkei Asia
2 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Stalled US tariff talks hinge on Japan's upper house election
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have been unable to reach a deal on tariffs on American imports from Japan. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters and Nikkei) TASUKU IKEDA TOKYO -- The results of this month's upper house election in Japan will likely determine further progress on U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations, which are apparently at an impasse, as well as the Japanese government's room to make concessions. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday released the first batch of letters to notify trading partners of new tariff rates. The rate on Japan will be 25%, he wrote. The August start date is seen as a way to pressure negotiating partners into making concessions.
