The Weifang Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone in Shandong province maintained stable growth in foreign trade and investment in the first quarter of the year despite downward economic trends in China and the world.

Official data showed that the zone's imports and exports were valued at 8.71 billion yuan ($1.22 billion) in the first three months of the year, up 21.6 percent year on year. During this period, the high-tech zone also signed a number of deals for key projects.

A night view of the Weifang Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Shandong province [Photo/China Daily]

According to Song Chifeng, an official from the high-tech zone, the local government has been ramping up efforts to streamline and approve government services and solve problems for local enterprises.

Song said that the zone has also introduced a new mechanism for strengthening interactions among government workers and companies.

Government workers are required to establish communication with local companies to better understand their needs through companies' official websites, face-to-face talks, questionnaire-based surveys, and collecting information online.

For situations requiring support from different government departments, the zone has promised to offer solutions or feedback within three to five working days.

The high-tech zone is also developing a more livable and attractive community by providing high-quality education services to children and better public cemetery services and by building museums to preserve local traditional culture and history.