Global Spotlight






from China

Work toward the goals and go with the flow

Mitsubishi Corporation (Shanghai) Ltd.
A subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation

Ms. Yijun Xu

Senior Investment Manager Urban Development Dept

My work in outline

Shanghai view
Last December, I was presented with the 15-year Service Award at Mitsubishi Corporation (Shanghai) Ltd. (SSL). I joined SSL in 2007 and started as secretary to the president and managing director of SSL for five years. Then I was transferred to the Urban Development Dept. After 2 years’ assignment in the Beijing office, I’m now involved in investment in the real estate market in China. My department has cumulatively developed 16 residential, logistics and commercial projects in 10 cities in China since 2011, through collaborations with leading local partners. I’m very pleased to participate in almost all the projects. It’s much more interesting to work in Mitsubishi than a pure real estate company, because you can leverage Mitsubishi’s wide-spread network and financial expertise to enhance investment business models, in which we bring to bear our competitive advantage. In 2020, we successfully managed a RMB investment structure, becoming the first Japanese real estate company in China to do so.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is so much negative news about the Chinese housing market, such as Chinese property giant Evergrande group defaulting on its debts. From my perspective, some of the news is misleading, and though the housing market has tightened considerably, it remains steady amidst the economic repercussions. Especially in some Tier 1, 2 cities (e.g., Shanghai, Beijing), there’s been no significant drop in prices, and the internal rate of return of some projects is higher than expected.
Cooperating with SSL colleagues and local partners, putting our heads together, I’m able to take each step as an opportunity towards our goal during COVID-19. Just be prepared as I can, then go with the flow.

Shanghai mum’s weekend

A closer look at historic architecture and buildings on the Bund Shanghai on Staycation Day 2
My daughter’s banana art
SSL colleagues wearing my hand-made neck warmers
In all of China, mums in Shanghai are known as "Mother Hens" who fuss over their children’s education. The most representative joke is as following. “Is an English vocabulary of 1,500 words sufficient for a 4-year-old?” “Depends on where you are. In the USA, the answer is yes. In China it is no.”
My daughter will be 6 this October. In her kindergarten, many kids are given a schedule of lessons on weekends. Learning foreign languages, musical instruments, sports, and arts. Some of them even hire private tutors.
I'm more like a "Buddhist-like mum"(go-with-the-flow kind of person). A staycation around Shanghai hotels is becoming a recent favorite in my family. Even if you've been to the area before, by staying there, you can take a closer look at the historic architecture and buildings at that area, learn more about the history, culture, food, etc. It is definitely the best way to let the whole family have fun. After the hotel check-in, we relax in the room, my daughter enjoys her new hobby—banana art (after the artistic creation, it’s also a nice little snack), my husband plays video games, and I do my lifelong hobby—knitting. Is this called love and peace?
My daughter’s banana art
SSL colleagues wearing my hand-made neck warmers