The 2018 International Summit on Innovation and Development of Youth Entrepreneurs opened in grand style on Aug 7 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, offering a platform for entrepreneurs from home and abroad to share and exchange experiences and ideas, as well as generate opportunities for local development.

Themed around "build a prosperous new era, foster new economic growth drivers", the summit was designed with keynote speeches, high-level talks and forums to discuss key topics concerning local social and economic development, such as promoting rural revitalization, fostering emerging industries and building high-tech marine sector, as well as business trips to Shandong province's 17 cities.

More than 1,500 distinguished guests from home and abroad, including government officials, business elites, youth entrepreneurs and academic experts attended the opening ceremony.

Wang Hongyan, a senior official of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, said that Shandong has launched a number of preferential policies to attract investment and global talents. The province has also been ramping up efforts in innovative research, entrepreneurship platform building, industrial park construction and enterprise incubation. 

Wang also expressed her hope for the participants to regularly visit Shandong, explore more areas to cooperate in with local enterprises and help boost the province's international profile. 

Ma Jiantang, Party secretary of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said that innovation was the primary driving force behind development and high-quality development relies on scientific and technological innovation as well as system innovation. 

Ma added that Shandong should strive to create favorable conditions, platforms and one-stop service for entrepreneurs and start-ups to do business in the province. 

Liu Jiayi, Party secretary of Shandong, said that the province is committed to securing high-quality economic growth and boosting innovation to meet people's increasing need for a better life. 

According to Liu, focused on fostering new growth drivers to speed up economic and structural upgrading, the province has rolled out preferential policies to attract investment, promote emerging industry development and draw global talents. 

Liu said that the summit, gathering many entrepreneurs, business elites and academic authorities, would offer more opportunities for the province’s high-quality development. 

Several cooperation projects were signed during the opening ceremony. 

The three-day event was organized with the guidance of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, the Development Research Center of the State Council and the Shandong government. 

The 2018 International Summit on Innovation and Development of Youth Entrepreneurs opens on Aug 7 in Jinan, capital of Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

A cooperation project is signed during the opening ceremony of the 2018 International Summit on Innovation and Development of Youth Entrepreneurs in Jinan, capital of Shandong province, Aug 7. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Wang Hongyan, a senior official of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]