Yohei Kono

President of the Association for the Promotion of International Trade, Japan

Born in 1937 and graduated from Waseda University. A former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, a politician and diplomat who advocates friendship with China. He took his current post in 2006.

The Association for the Promotion of International Trade, Japan (JAPIT), founded in September 1954, is a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Japan. It is also one of Japan’s seven organizations advocating Japan-China friendship. Its members consist of large, small and medium-sized enterprises in various industries. Since its establishment, the Association has played an active role in promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Japan.