Catalonia is already looking toward Asia in the Trump era: The island puts Japan, China, and India on its radar.

TokyoThe world has changed, and Catalonia must begin to look beyond the West. his first intercontinental trip to Japan and KoreaAnd now, the government wants to take a further step in Catalonia's relations with Asia. Speaking from Tokyo, Salvador Illa announced a plan to "consolidate and increase" the Catalan government's presence on the continent, which is home to almost 60 percent of the world's population and is the fastest-growing region on the planet. Called the Asia Plan, the document will be presented in the coming months and seeks to intensify economic, academic, and commercial relations at a time when Donald Trump's tariff war is shaking traditional international alliances. The president warned that this isn't about abandoning American partners, but rather about understanding that "the world is changing" and that Catalonia cannot stand idly by and watch economic opportunities pass by. "Catalonia will be ambitious," he promised.

To what areas could this collaboration extend? Isla declined to elaborate on whether, within the framework of this strategy, the Generalitat will focus on strengthening ties with China—for example, with a delegation—although he acknowledged that it is an "important" part of the continent. Currently, the Generalitat has Action offices in Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, and Mumbai, dedicated to promoting Catalonia's economic interests in these regions. Pere Aragonès's government was the first to open a delegation in Asia: it was in South Korea, in 2023, followed by Japan, in 2024.

The Ministry of the European Union and Foreign Affairs will be responsible for developing this plan, which aims to be completed before the end of the year. The goal is for Catalonia to become a "reliable partner" for Asia and one of its gateways to Europe, according to the government in a statement outlining the plan's axes. Beyond the commercial aspect, the Catalan government aims to strengthen its institutional presence on the continent and foster the exchange of knowledge in technology and innovation, particularly through research centers and universities. It also aims to promote the culture of peace and human rights through alliances with local actors and international organizations. In addition to Japan and Korea, Isla also highlighted the importance of countries like India.

The economic agenda in Tokyo continues.

Specifically with the aim of fostering economic relations between Catalonia and Japan, the Socialist Prime Minister continued his agenda in Tokyo this Tuesday with more economic meetings. The day began with breakfast with Japanese business leaders from the multinationals Fujitsu, Kaneka, Mitsubishi MUFG Bank (with an office in Barcelona until 2024), KAO Chemical, Midokura (part of the Sony group), Sojitz, and AGC Pharma Chemicals. With the Catalan mission on one side (including the translator accompanying the Prime Minister on the trip) and the Japanese mission on the other, Illa shared a continental breakfast—without chopsticks or rice bowls—with executives who shared their impressions of Catalonia, where they already operate. All this took place at a table dominated by four flags: the Spanish flag, the Japanese flag, the Spanish flag, and the European Union flag. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Spanish ambassador, Íñigo de Palacio.

At the meeting at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, the Japanese brought their own interpreter and only sat down at the table after exchanging business cards with the president, a ritual in the country. In fact, in preparation for the trip, protocol experts from the Generalitat (Catalan government) warned the Catalan delegation (including journalists) that it is essential to hand over these cards with the left hand or both hands—doing otherwise is seen as disrespectful—and to wait a moment before putting them away or removing them from view.

The agenda continued with a meeting with representatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, which began with the Japanese authorities present, expressing their interest in Catalonia and doing business. All this was accompanied by a wink from the meeting room itself: the waters were bottles of Vichy Catalan, which exports to Japan. Afterwards, Isla conducted an interview with Nikkei, a leading Japanese economic newspaper, and a closed-door meeting at the offices of NTT Data, the technology company with the largest number of Japanese employees in Catalonia and with which the Generalitat also has contracts (particularly for the CTTI). Journalists were not allowed access.

But before these meetings, Isla didn't want to skip his usual training session: before six in the morning, he went for a run near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The president met with other Japanese runners, with whom he also shares another typically Japanese hobby: green tea. The day ended with a reception (with snacks) for about twenty Catalans living in Japan, held at a hotel, while waiting for the Generalitat (Catalan government) to find a location for the delegation in Japan. The delegation has a representative and organizes events, but does not yet have a physical headquarters. Salvador Illa will therefore leave the country without having been able to inaugurate it.