Chinese Young People’s Entrepreneurship Impresses Japanese Counterparts

Japanese young adults visiting China this week as part of an exchange program have been impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit of their Chinese counterparts.

The 25-member Japanese delegation met with young Chinese entrepreneurs, a new breed that has emerged in recent years with the government encouraging business startups and innovation.

Delegation head Yoshihisa Takehayashi said most young Japanese aspire to steady jobs with banks or big companies, and consider starting their own companies too risky.

“Encouraging entrepreneurship can inject energy into rising industries. Japan should cultivate entrepreneurial spirit in its education system,” he said.

Wang Zhiwen, a student at Northwest A&F University in Shaanxi Province, shared his experience starting his own science company. Wang explained that he was “just a diligent student in the laboratory who had little knowledge about business” until taking training courses organized by UN-backed program Know About Business (KAB).

Launched in China in Y 2005, KAB has arranged courses in about 1,400 colleges in China, and 1-M Chinese students have been involved in its activities.

KAB is just one route into entrepreneurship.

The Chinese government has been offering startups preferential policies in areas including capital and rent.

Entrepreneurial clubs have also been launched in many colleges. Li Guoqing, vice chair of one club in Tangshan Normal University in Hebei Province, said it has been inviting famous entrepreneurs to advise students.

“The club has connected students with the real business world, bringing them closer to realizing their entrepreneurial dreams,” he said.

Japanese delegates complained that college graduates in their country face difficulties such as a lack of startup capital and entrepreneurship education.

Japanese college student Hidekazu said he dreamed of starting a language school after graduation. “Hopefully, our college can also start an entrepreneurs club,” he said.

By Yaing Bo

Paul Ebeling, Editor

HeffX-LTN