Salvador Illa, the President of the Generalitat, has wrapped up his journey to Japan and South Korea with a promise to visit China this July. He intends to make three or four transoceanic trips annually, alongside those within Europe. "We must explain ourselves, travel, and make ourselves known," Illa remarked as he reflected on this first venture beyond the EU. "The world is to be present in, and as long as my schedule allows, I will travel," he asserted. The recent tour highlighted a shift in Catalonia towards normalized relations with Spanish embassies. Although tangible economic outcomes are pending, the trip allowed exploration of potential future projects.

During his tour, Illa visited Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto in Japan, and concluded in Seoul, South Korea, where he toured an Apple facility. Despite not securing any investments, he emphasized his focus on "watering and planting" rather than "harvesting." Illa is optimistic about partnerships with the Nikkei group and Kobe's biomedical cluster. "We've planted the seed, and we'll see if it bears fruit," he emphasized. He also reaffirmed his support for the multinational Lotte's electric battery project in Mont-roig, Tarragona, which has faced environmentalist opposition, ensuring he sees no hindrance in obtaining an environmental license.

Following the tariff policies set by Donald Trump, the Catalan Government aims to intensify and reorganize its commercial strategy in Asia, aligning with the central government's position. "The international geopolitical landscape is shifting," Illa remarked, noting Pedro Sánchez's desire to boost Spain's presence in Asia. The Generalitat currently operates two delegations in Tokyo and Seoul, and four Acció commercial offices in Tokyo, Seoul, Mumbai, and Beijing.

The initiative, focusing on China and India, is titled Plan Asia, with plans for approval by year's end. The next stop on the continent will be China, where the visit will emphasize economic aspects. The government is keen to foster trade relations with Japan by encouraging companies to establish a regular flight between Tokyo and Barcelona, a venture previously attempted unsuccessfully by former president José Montilla 15 years ago.

The government seeks to move past independence efforts and return to institutional normality from all angles, with this week-long journey serving as another link in that strategy. The procés had sidelined the foreign policy initiated by Pujol and followed by presidents Maragall and Montilla, which was influenced by strained relations between the government and Spanish delegations. This trip marked a change, as the Japanese and South Korean ambassadors welcomed Illa at the airports and accompanied him on institutional agendas, though not in business meetings.

Unlike his independent predecessors, such as Pere Aragonès's visit to Korea in December 2023, Illa returned to using airport authority lounges to expedite processes. "I'm grateful for how things have gone," he stated. "I didn't expect it to be different. A fifth of Spain's economy and population is Catalan. We must rely on their support," he added.

Illa justified the limited political and institutional profile of his visit to Japan and South Korea, pointing to the cultural nature due to the International Exhibition of Osaka, where Spain's pavilion hosted Catalan Week. The events included a performance by a Catalan rumba group, featuring a dancer who performed before Illa and the EU and Foreign Action Minister, Jaume Duch. The image of applause drew criticism from independence supporters. "Catalan rumba is Catalan," Illa insisted in statements at the Generalitat Delegation in South Korea, which appointed a new delegate, Bekiu Kim Jungun, a Korean-origin Catalan, in October.