Jinan, capital of Shandong Province, signed 40 cooperation programs with a total investment of 112.7 billion yuan (US$16.3 billion) in Shanghai on Thursday.

The programs were mainly in the smart manufacturing, high-end equipment, biomedicine, industry finance, modern logistics and cultural tourism industries. Five were valued above 10 billion yuan, eight between 5 and 10 billion yuan and 27 under 5 billion yuan.

The event was held by Jinan to seek investment and talent for its ambition to build itself into "an international metropolis and headquarters base in north China" for state-owned enterprises and transnational companies and a cluster of high-end industries, science and technology, talent and modern service industry.

The event aimed to deepen connections with Fortune Global 500 companies, transnational companies in Shanghai and other well-known enterprises, as well as financing organizations and commerce chambers. It also sought to attract cutting-edge programs, innovation groups and high-end professionals.

Jinan government had invited more than 600 people from 349 companies and organizations to attend.

Wang Zhonglin, Party secretary of Jinan, said the city had been asked by President Xi Jinping to build a highland for opening up and it was willing to share high-quality development opportunities with enterprises and outstanding talents.

Sun Shutao, mayor of Jinan, said the city will open the door wider for cooperation and opening up and provide more comprehensive and efficient services of higher quality for enterprises, offering more flexible, practical and favorable policies and building a better and more international business environment.

Source: SHINE

Editor: Liu Qi