Dec 20 marks the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, and Shandong, an economic powerhouse in East China, has become an important economic and trade partner of the city.

The two sides have taken advantage of their respective strengths, continuously enhanced cooperation, and made remarkable achievements in trade, investment, engineering, and other sectors.

According to data from the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, Shandong was home to 33 Macao-invested enterprises with an annual operating revenue of $944 million in 2018. By the end of October this year, two more Macau-invested enterprises had set up operations in the province.

"Shandong has accelerated the transformation of old and new growth drivers and promotes high-quality development, providing more opportunities for Chinese and foreign talent. What I want to do most is teach the people of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan more about Shandong and support their development in the province," said a senior employee at the Macao-based Powerlong Holdings Development Co.

The Shandong business delegation, invited by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, attended the 24th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair from Oct 17 to 19, where it highlighted Shandong's business environment, investment policies, and key areas of cooperation in the service industry.

"In recent years, Shandong has been strengthening contact with government departments and chambers of commerce in Macao in order to promote more economic and trade cooperation," said Shang Peng, an official from the Shandong provincial office of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao affairs.