A trade delegation from Shandong, led by Provincial Governor Gong Zheng, visited Japan, South Korea and the Philippines from March 24 to April 2, netting a whopping $2 billion in investment, covering 10 major projects.

During the 10-day trip, the delegation visited eight cities, namely Japan's Wakayama, Osaka and Tokyo, South Korea's Seoul, Suwon and Inchon, and Philippines's Manila and Cebu.

In an effort to increase cooperation and drum up more business and investment for the province, the delegation visited several big name firms, including Sharp Corporation, Ship Healthcare Holdings Co Ltd, Sumitomo Corporation and Hyundai Motors.

The delegation attended 30 investment and cooperation promo activities and cultural exchanges and witnessed 36 ceremonies related to project signing and new product releases.

The delegation had in-depth exchanges with government officials and business personages in the three countries to promote Shandong and galvanize cooperation.

A series of promo events were held to introduce Shandong's development strategies such as replacing old growth drivers with new ones, rural revitalization and marine economy development and promotion of pragmatic cooperation in various areas.

Gong said that Shandong continues to pursue market-oriented reform, open up wider to the outside world and advance high-quality development, said Gong.

Gong added that Shandong is willing to share development opportunities and tackle challenges together with people of other countries with an open mind and win-win cooperation, deepen exchanges and cooperation in industrial investment, innovation and talent cultivation, promote trade facilitation and jointly create a better future.

A number of cooperation projects with high value in the fields of intelligent manufacturing, high-end equipment, medical care and health, new energy and new materials, modern logistics and third-party market cooperation were signed.

The Shandong delegation visits Itochu Corporation on March 26 in Tokyo. Itochu is one of the largest Japanese sogo shosha. [Photo/iqilu.com]

Gong Zheng, governor of Shandong province, delivers a speech at the Shandong-Tokyo Investment Conference on March 27. [Photo/iqilu.com]

Gong Zheng, governor of Shandong province, meets Park Won-soon, mayor of Seoul on March 28. [Photo/iqilu.com]

Officials from Shandong and South Korea pose for a photo at the Shandong-South Korea Investment Conference on March 29. [Photo/iqilu.com]

The Shandong-Cebu Investment Conference is held on April 2. [Photo/iqilu.com]