A promotional conference on deepening opening-up and cooperation between Shandong and Japan was held in Tokyo on Dec 6.

The conference, held during a visit to Japan by Shandong government representatives, was meant to promote opening-up and cooperation between China and Japan and improve bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

A promotional conference on deepening opening-up and cooperation between Shandong and Japan is held in Tokyo on Dec 6. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong province, delivered a keynote speech at the conference saying that Shandong and Japan are friendly neighbors enjoying close ties in many areas.

He said that Shandong, with its competitive industrial foundation, abundant natural resources and scientific research strength, is now promoting high-quality development and a new era of opening-up, which will provide more opportunities for cooperation with Japan.

Shandong plans to build a platform for high-end industrial cooperation between China and Japan and improve its trade facilitation services. Measures will be implemented to encourage Japanese enterprises to invest in Shandong and promote port cooperation between the two sides, Liu added. 

Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong province, delivers a keynote speech at the conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

He also expressed hope that the two sides would develop better cooperation between government departments, continue to deepen industrial and economic cooperation, encourage enterprises from both countries to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, continue to expand cultural exchange, and work to develop a lasting partnership.

Kong Xuanyou, Chinese ambassador to Japan, said that China-Japan relations are now entering a new era and are presented with unprecedented opportunities for further development.

Kong said that Shandong attaches great importance to its relationship with Japan, and that the two sides have seen impressive results in economic, trade, and cultural cooperation. He expressed hope that both sides would work to achieve their full cooperation potential and share development opportunities through the promotional conference.

Liu Jiayi, Party chief of Shandong province, delivers a keynote speech at the conference. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hideki Makihara, Japan's Deputy Minister for the Economy, Trade, and Industry, said that Japanese enterprises have a strong presence in Shandong, while Shandong enterprises have made significant contributions to local development in Japan.

He said that the two sides should continue to deepen cooperation and push for a more sound and stable economic relationship.

Officials from Shandong's Jinan, Qingdao, and Yantai promoted the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone at the conference, while the Shandong Provincial State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission promoted the province's key projects and expressed a desire to replace old growth drivers with new ones.

A number of project deals were also signed at the conference.