President Nakano Participates in the 12th Asia Policy Forum and the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Hitotsubashi University in Beijing

On October 31, 2025, Hitotsubashi University (HU) and the Renmin University of China (RUC) jointly held the 12th Asia Policy Forum in Zhongguancun Campus, RUC, Beijing. In attendance were President Satoshi Nakano, Assistant Vice President Kazuhiro Obayashi (Global Engagement), Director Yuko Minami (Asian Center in China), and four faculty members from HU.

 

HU and RUC established an academic exchange agreement in 2004 and a student exchange agreement in 2009, strengthening their collaboration as outstanding universities in the social sciences and humanities. Both universities maintain good communication through student exchanges as well as reciprocal visits from faculty members. Asia Policy Forum is one of the cooperative initiatives instituted between the two universities.

 

In his welcome speech at the opening ceremony of the Forum, President Nakano noted that student exchanges are progressing smoothly. He highlighted that 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the Business and Law Schools of the RUC as well as the 150th anniversary of HU and expressed hope for further development of exchanges in the future. In his remarks at the closing ceremony, Assistant Vice President Obayashi summarized the Forum and expressed his hope for strengthened academic and personnel exchanges.

 

The main theme of the Forum was “Governance Modernization for Megacities.” Faculty members and researchers from both universities actively engaged in lively presentations and discussions. From HU, Professor Takahito Mori (Graduate School of Economics), Associate Professor Yuto Tanaka (Graduate School of Law/School of International and Public Policy), Associate Professor Yoshiki Shimizu (Graduate School of Business Administration), and Professor Ayumi Takenaka (Graduate School of Social Sciences) delivered lectures on topics within their field in relation to the general theme.

 

On November 1, 2025, a celebration ceremony for HU’s 150th anniversary was organized by the Beijing Chapter and Beijing International Students’ Chapter of Josuikai (Alumni Association) at the official residence of the Japanese ambassador in China. At the celebration, President Nakano gave a commemorative lecture on the history of the interaction and friendship between Japan and China and shared his aspiration to uphold peace, referring to the definition of Josui by Eiichi Shibusawa.

 

HU will further strengthen its partnership and collaboration with RUC—a leading university in the field of social sciences—through the Asia Policy Forum and reinforce its networks of alumni, universities, and related organizations worldwide to enhance its international presence.