Executive Officer of Japan Airlines: Expects closer Sino-Japan cooperation

"I have been to many cities in the world and am therefore quite familiar with airports all over the world. But it is the first time that I have transferred from an airport to a high-speed train. The aviation industry of China is developing fast, with a long-term plan and a focus on branding, just like the way China is developing now."

Akira Yonezawa, current Executive Officer of Japan Airlines, has been working for the company for 34 years since he joined the company in 1984. He once served as Manager of the Shanghai Office at Japan Airlines between 2008 and 2010. This is the second time Akira has taken on a challenge in China.

Witnessed the dramatic changes during two periods of employment

Talking about the changes of Shanghai, Akira Yonezawa was also amazed by the construction speed of metro railways in Shanghai. "I was in Shanghai in 2010 when Shanghai held the World Expo and Line 10 officially opened for service and now Line 17 has been put into operation. Shanghai today boasts the world's longest subway system in terms of length, which is longer than the metro systems in New York and Tokyo."

Akira Yonezawa first vivisted China more than 30 years ago. In his opinion, Chinese people are wealthier now and can feel free to travel within China or abroad. "After the reform and opening up, Chinese tourists have been seen all over the globe, enjoying the scenery and cuisines of foreign countries. Moreover, more and more foreigners have come to China. This movement of people has gone a long way towards cultural exchange."

 Photo: Akira Yonezawa during the interview