The Rizhao government signed a strategic cooperation agreement on July 2 with Kingsoft Cloud, the cloud-computing service unit of China software giant Kingsoft Corp to build the city into a new example of a smart city.

According to the agreement, the two sides will conduct in-depth cooperation in areas of E-government service platforms, cloud-based systems, data analysis and artificial intelligence. 

The two parties with jointly build a cloud valley in the Rizhao Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, which will help to gather top-notch Internet talents, foster cloud computing and the big data and Internet industry and develop industrial clusters. 

With a total investment of 1.8 billion yuan ($272 million), the Kingsoft (Rizhao) Cloud Valley, covering an area of 160 mu (10.67 hectares), is an Internet innovation industrial ecological park based on the internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence. 

Xu Shuli, vice mayor of Rizhao, said that the cooperation with Kingsoft Cloud will accelerate the city's shift of growth drivers from old to new and push ahead with economic transformation and upgrading. He also expressed his hope that the two sides will expand the breadth and depth of cooperation so as to create a win-win situation. 

Wang Yulin, CEO of Kingsoft Cloud, said that the cooperation will help to build Rizhao into a smart city and add fuel to the city's high-quality development.

The Rizhao government signs a strategic cooperation agreement on July 2 with Kingsoft Cloud, the cloud-computing service unit of China software giant Kingsoft Corp to build the city into a new example of a smart city. [Photo/WeChat account: jinshanyunnews]

Xu Shuli, vice mayor of Rizhao, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account: jinshanyunnews] 

Wang Yulin, CEO of Kingsoft Cloud, delivers a speech at the signing ceremony. [Photo/WeChat account: jinshanyunnews]