Zhang Shuping, deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and Party secretary of Yantai [Photo/iqilu.com]]

The coastal city of Yantai is strengthening cooperation with Qingdao to promote the development of the Jiaodong Economic Circle, said Zhang Shuping, deputy to the 13th National People's Congress and Party secretary of Yantai, in an interview during the two sessions.

The Jiaodong area is located on the Shandong Peninsula, the largest peninsula in China.

The area, encompassing the cities of Qingdao, Yantai, Weifang, Weihai and Rizhao, boasts fertile farmland, picturesque landscapes, rich culture, a pleasant climate and well-developed transportation.

According to Zhang, Yantai and Qingdao enjoy a close relationship in terms of economy, culture and investment, which is a major boon to the development of the Jiaodong Economic Circle.

The two cities have signed 18 cooperation projects. Laiyang and Haiyang, county-level cities in Yantai, and Jimo district in Qingdao, are planning to build an industrial park in the area to fuel mutual cooperative development.

As coastal cities, the two sides carry out substantial cooperation in marine-related fields. Some high-end institutions in Qingdao such as Ocean University of China have established industry-university-research cooperation partnerships with Yantai.

More efforts are being made to promote transportation between the two cities. The Laixi-Rongcheng Railway project will connect Qingdao, Yantai and Weihai cities. Qingdao metro line 11 will extend to Laiyang and Haiyang in Yantai.