On November 19, 2024, at the invitation of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liu Weidong, Vice President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, led the "China-Japan Tree Planting and Afforestation Solidarity Project" Shanghai Jiao Tong University New Era China-Japan Friendship Delegation (hereinafter referred to as the "Friendship Delegation") with student representatives to visit the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Seiwa Inada, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Hiroaki Ebihara, Executive Director of the Japan-China Friendship Association, among others.

In her welcoming speech, Seiwa Inada stated that Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as one of China’s top universities, has a long history and a strong academic atmosphere. Since the period of the Nanyang Public School over a century ago, the university has been engaging in friendly cooperation with many Japanese research institutions. The Japanese side hopes that the Friendship Delegation will serve as a bridge to deepen mutual understanding between China and Japan, expand communication and dialogue between the two countries, and promote further exchanges in areas such as culture, technology, and environmental protection.

Liu Weidong expressed his gratitude for the Japanese side's invitation and thoughtful arrangements. He pointed out that this friendly visit is an important opportunity to deepen communication and cooperation between the youth of both countries in the New Era, and he hopes that the members of the delegation will take this opportunity to deepen their understanding of Japan. He also stated that in the future, Shanghai Jiao Tong University will strengthen collaboration with Japanese universities and enterprises, working together to make greater contributions to the further advancement of China-Japan friendship.

At the end of the event, both sides exchanged gifts and took a group photo to commemorate the occasion.

The "China-Japan Tree Planting and Afforestation International Joint Project" Shanghai Jiao Tong University New Era China-Japan Friendship Delegation, invited by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, carried out a week-long exchange visit to Japan. The delegation consisted of 149 faculty and students from 28 departments. During their time in Japan, the delegation visited universities and enterprises in Tokyo, Osaka, Shizuoka, Nagoya, and other regions, and participated in activities such as tree planting, disaster prevention, and environmental protection lectures.