On November 25, 2023, led by Katsunao Ito, Director of the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library of Japan, a delegation of five people visited the Shanghai Library East, accompanied by Director Zhang Xu of International Cooperation Division of the National Library of China. Director Chen Chao and Director Ito watched a promotional video for the Shanghai Library East in the Reading Theater. In the reception room on the 7th floor, Director Chen gave an introduction to the location of the Shanghai Library East, its positioning as a smart and hybrid library, and its future development and challenges. Director Ito mentioned that the National Diet Library of Japan, which was opened to the public in 1948, is one of the largest libraries in Japan and has made significant explorations and experiments in digital transformation. This year, the theme of cooperation with the National Library of China is the preservation and promotion of classics, and the Shanghai trip will provide an opportunity for the Japanese colleagues to visit and learn about the achievements of the Shanghai Library in this area.

After the discussion, Director Chen Chao accompanied Director Ito and his delegation to visit the Treasured Collections Library on the 7th floor, Reading Square on the 3rd floor, robots on the 1st floor and the atrium and, as well as the exhibition, "Grandeur of the Great Han: Exibition of Rare Rubbings of Han Dynasty Stone Inscriptions from the Shanghai Library". In the afternoon, accompanied by librarians from the International Cooperation Division of Shanghai Library, the delegation visited Bibliotheca Zi-Ka-Wei and ZiKaWei Library.