Showcasing the Unique Charm of Splendid Xiaoxiang and Extending a Global Invitation to Shared Harmony

On the morning of August 6, the Hunan Week at the China Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka officially commenced under the theme ” Splendid Xiaoxiang: Harmony Between Humanity and Nature.” The event features a thoughtfully curated “1+3+4+N” schedule, including an opening ceremony with a guided tour, economic and trade matchmaking events, sister city exchanges, an environmental technology forum, a cultural and tourism promotion session, the Xiaoxiang Salon, and a series of city-themed days. These vibrant activities will unfold in both Osaka and Tokyo from August 6 to August 8. Focusing on the mutual appreciation of civilizations and fostering consensus for collaboration, Hunan Week highlights the province’s sound business climate, ecological beauty, and robust development momentum. It sends a sincere and comprehensive invitation to the world to embrace the vision of “harmony in diversity.”

The theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, aligns closely with the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. As a key platform for showcasing China, the China Pavilion has garnered great enthusiasm and acclaim from international visitors since its opening. Hunan Week draws inspiration from the traditional and contemporary narratives of the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang, vividly presenting the richness of Chinese culture, the dynamic vitality of Hunan’s “Three Highlands and Four New Missions” development strategy, and the province’s pragmatic efforts to deepen global cooperation and friendship.

At the opening ceremony, over 100 international guests and media professionals were welcomed into the pavilion by vibrant performances of Hunan’s representative intangible cultural heritage programs—Yao Drum Dance and Changde Silk String Opera. The launch of the themed promo video “Splendid Xiaoxiang: Harmony Between Humanity and Nature” was accompanied by the animated debut of the event ambassador, Xiao Xiang the finless porpoise. The performance “Ink-washed Xiaoxiang: An Octet of Strings” painted a musical portrait of Hunan’s scenic landscapes. More than 40 iconic intangible cultural heritage artifacts—ranging from Xiang embroidery to Xiang porcelain—were on display across the China Pavilion. National-level Intangible Cultural Heritage masters demonstrated intricate porcelain and embroidery techniques on site. The interactive “Bamboo Hibiscus Flower” installation drew enthusiastic participation, allowing visitors to experience the beauty of Hunan’s culture firsthand.

Hunan is home to globally industrial clusters in construction machinery, rail transit, and aerospace. Its hybrid rice technology has contributed a “Chinese solution” to global food security. As a key hub along the Belt and Road Initiative, Hunan has seen rapid progress in the development of its Pilot Free Trade Zone and serves as the permanent host of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. Today, Hunan continues to advance inland reform and opening-up, with 120 international sister city partnerships and Fortune Global 500 investments from 212 companies. In 2024, Changsha Huanghua International Airport’s annual passenger throughput exceeded 30 million, with routes connecting to 16 countries and regions across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas—further solidifying its position as a major international aviation hub in central China.

Yang Aiyun, Chair of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Hunan Sub-Council, stated that Hunan aims to leverage the global platform of Expo 2025 Osaka to showcase its achievements in ecological civilization and the development of its “4×4” modern industrial system. The event will help promote international cooperation for Hunan-based enterprises and highlight the province’s industrial strengths, as it embraces the world with greater confidence and ambition, pursuing mutual benefit and shared prosperity.