On November 16, 2024, the 21st PKU-Obirin University Academic Conference, jointly organized by the Asia-Pacific Research Institute of Peking University and Obirin University, was successfully held in Room C201 at the School of International Studies (SIS), PKU. The theme of this year’s conference was The Development of the Tourism Industry and People-to-People Exchanges between China and Japan.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. ZHANG Xiaoming (Deputy Director, Asia-Pacific Research Institute, PKU). Prof. WU Zhipan (Former Executive Vice President, PKU) and Prof. OTSUKI Tatsuya (Chairman of the Board, Obirin University) delivered opening remarks. Prof. Wu showcased a set of images featuring popular domestic tourist destinations in China. He pointed out that in the age of the internet and visual media, the tourism boom has driven new forms of consumption and services, evolving into a “new business model.” He emphasized the significance of this conference, which focuses on tourism exchanges between China and Japan. Prof. Wu also extended a warm welcome to the scholars from Obirin University and Beijing Union University.
Prof. Otsuki noted that since its launch in 1998, the PKU-Obirin University Academic Conference has been held more than 20 times, maintaining uninterrupted academic exchanges even during the pandemic through online formats. He stressed that tourism and people-to-people exchanges are crucial fields for China and Japan, as they foster mutual cultural understanding and help strengthen bilateral relations.
Following this, Prof. LI Hanmei (Director, Asia-Pacific Research Institute, PKU) introduced the newly published Yingbei Series No.5: Common Challenges for China and Japan—New Problems in a Turbulent World. Prof. Li explained that this fifth volume represents the latest academic achievements of the PKU-Obirin conferences, compiling papers presented at the conferences from 2017 to 2022. The topics covered include higher education and international joint programs, cultural exchange and literary studies, aging societies, economic development and the automotive industry, and a comparative analysis of international exchange models between China and Japan. She emphasized that the publication comes at a time when China-Japan relations have experienced turbulence, and scholars from both countries have demonstrated a keen sense of shared challenges, using academic dialogue to explore the bilateral relationship from a broader perspective.
Session I
The first session was chaired by Prof. DONG Guangzhe (Professor, Faculty of Business Management, Obirin University).
Prof. WATANABE Yasuhiro (Professor Emeritus, University of Toyama) delivered a presentation titled The Role of International Tourism in the Socio-Economy and Challenges in Growth Forecasts, analyzing the potential risks governments face when promoting tourism development.
Prof. JI Tingxu (Professor, School of Tourism, Beijing Union University; Visiting Research Fellow, Center for Northeast Asian Studies, PKU) presented on The Historical Evolution of Japan’s Tourism-Oriented Nation Policy and the Current Situation of Chinese Tourists Visiting Japan, exploring the factors influencing Chinese tourists’ choice of Japan as a travel destination.
Session II
The second session was chaired by Prof. LIANG Yunxiang (Professor, SIS, PKU).
Assoc. Prof. MU Jiehua (Associate Professor, School of Tourism, Beijing Union University) shared research titled Post-Pandemic Behavioral Trends of Chinese Tourists Visiting Japan, highlighting changes in travel patterns before and after COVID-19.
Assoc. Prof. KAWASAKI Yuka (Associate Professor, Faculty of Business Management, Obirin University) delivered a presentation titled Observing Chinese Tourists Visiting Japan: Focusing on 2019–2023, discussing cultural exchange through tourism and the potential of nighttime tourism projects to enhance people-to-people interactions.
Session III
The third session was chaired by Assoc. Prof. SUN Jianjun (Tenured Associate Professor, School of Foreign Languages, PKU).
Assoc. Prof. LIU Xiling (Associate Professor, School of Tourism, Beijing Union University) presented research titled The Current Situation of Japanese Tourists Visiting China under the 72/144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy, exploring the policy’s role in promoting China-Japan tourism exchanges and enhancing cultural understanding.
Prof. YAMAGUCHI Yuuji (Vice President, Obirin University) gave a talk titled Trends in Japan’s Leisure Industry and a Comparative Analysis of Leisure Activities in China and Japan, examining differences and characteristics of leisure activities in Japan and neighboring Asian countries.
Session IV
The fourth session was chaired by Prof. YANG Guangjun (Vice President, Obirin University).
Prof. TOZAKI Hajime (Professor, Faculty of Business Management, Obirin University) discussed An Examination of the China-Japan Air Transportation System, addressing issues such as labor shortages, noise, and falling object concerns at Japanese airports, as well as the potential for bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector.
Prof. LI Hanmei (Professor, SIS, PKU) delivered a presentation titled Youth Exchanges between China and Japan through the PKU-UTokyo “Jing Forum”, examining the current status and future prospects of youth exchange in higher education between the two countries.
Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony was chaired by Prof. WU Jiewei (Deputy Director, Institute of Area Studies, PKU).
Prof. YAMAGUCHI Yuuji (Vice President, Obirin University) and Prof. CHU Xiaobo (Director, Office of Humanities and Social Sciences, PKU) delivered concluding remarks. They highly praised the conference, noting its well-designed structure, rich content, and lively discussions. Scholars analyzed the characteristics and challenges of tourism-related industries in both countries from diverse perspectives and reached numerous points of consensus. They also expressed hopes that mutually beneficial tourism cooperation would enhance cultural exchanges and contribute to improving China-Japan relations.
Written by: Ye Jingtong
Photo by: Institute of Area Studies, PKU
Edited by: Li Hanmei