Nikon's Executive Vice President Masato Hamatani emphasized the importance of China to its company, saying that is not just a valued client, but an important partner at the ongoing China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.
The Japanese optics and photographic equipment manufacturer showcased its latest achievements across nine sectors at the 7th CIIE, including precision instruments, industrial solutions, glass materials, healthcare, and imaging products.
Hamatani highly valued the opportunities brought up by the expo.
"This year marks our fourth participation in the expo. From our first involvement, I felt the strong reactions created by the CIIE. Many divisions, including semiconductor lithography, life sciences, and imaging, received numerous inquiries from Chinese customers. We highly value this platform and hope to enhance our connections with clients," said Hamatani.
At the expo this year, Nikon unveiled its latest product -- a digital lithography machine, which was launched at the end of October, to meet the rising demand for semiconductors amid the widespread of artificial intelligence technologies and the development of data centers.
As Nikon's main products, including cameras, microscopes, and semiconductor devices, gradually enter into the Chinese market, about 20 percent of its sale are generated from China, making the country one of Nikon's most important markets, according to Hamatani, adding that China is not just a client, but also a crucial manufacturing partner.
"We do not just import from China. We set up a factory in Jiangsu Province to produce microscopes and related accessories, which are exported to other parts of the world. By doing so, we want to deepen the relations with the Chinese market," said Hamatani.
The CIIE is the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports. The six-day expo has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations to participate in its country exhibition and business exhibition.
Nikon views China as both valued client and crucial partner
A road which is being constructed by a Chinese contractor in the mountains of Peru is expected to promote economic development in Huanuco province, which is located about 350 kilometers away from the Peruvian capital Lima.
Huanuco is surrounded by the towering Andes mountain range, with altitudes averaging over 4,000 meters, and its poor road infrastructure has posed significant challenges to travelers and to farmers when they want to ship their potatoes, corn and other produce to customers in other locations.
To mitigate these challenges, construction work began in 2019 on the Andes National Road project, also known as the Carretera Huanuco-La Union-Huallanca road project.
Located in the central and western regions of Peru, the 236.63-kilometer road is the country's largest infrastructure project under construction, and is expected to take 11-12 years to complete.
It is estimated to halve travel time for about 270,000 people in 243 towns along the road.
"I am a farmer. I have grown potatoes all my life. We tried to sell Huanuco products to Lima. Because there were only paths, it was difficult to get there. People had to travel for hours. But now, it has shortened the time," said Adalberto Vela, a potato farmer in Huanuco.
"In fact, it will lower the cost of products and it will be easier to transport the products to the capital," said Gonzalo Prado, a truck driver.
"From the point of view of transport in Peru, it was necessary, because it is part of the national highway system. This makes it easier and better for producers in the mountainous areas to profit more from their products," said Luis Cordoba, the director of the engineering department at the national highways bureau under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
While trying to maximize the economic advantages of the new road, China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation Limited (CR20G), which is responsible for building the Andes National Road project, also works hard to protect the local environment.
This part of the Andes features a complex and diverse climate and a fragile ecological environment characterized by native forests along the route of the road.
To balance the requirements of heavy infrastructure work and a delicate environment, CR20G workers plant trees while building the road. The work team also includes experts specializing in environment, forest, safety, and community development. Nurseries have been established at different altitudes for different plants, and specialists teach forest protection knowledge to tens of thousands of residents along the road, and train forestry technicians.
"We are about to plant 40,000 trees. They are purely native species," said Luis Avila, a forest engineer.
"I look forward to the completion of the Andes national highway. Our construction team will deliver to the Peruvian people not only a high-quality expressway, but also a road surrounded by lush landscape, which is the best proof of Chinese companies' practice of biodiversity conservation. In my opinion, this road will be a road to poverty alleviation, a road that combines development and ecology, and a road of friendship between China and Peru," said Chen Jingfang, the executive manager of CR20G's Peru Branch.
Chinese-built road to promote economic, environmental development in Peru
