A conference to promote cooperation and exchange between Yantai and Japan is held at Yantai Dongshan Guesthouse on Aug 26. [Photo/iqilu.com]

A conference to promote cooperation and exchange between Yantai and Japan was held at Yantai Dongshan Guesthouse on Aug 26.

The event was hosted by the Yantai municipal government, Shandong Provincial Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and China Chamber of International Committee.

As a part of the "Dialogue with Shandong – Japan • Shandong Industrial Cooperation and Exchange" event, the conference aims to promote deeper economic cooperation and exchange with Okinawa prefecture, Kitakyushu city and Isumisano city in Japan.

At the conference, officials from Japan and Yantai introduced their local featured industries and investment environment.

A series of Japan-invested projects were signed, including an environmental protection project in Fushan district, tourism project in Zhaoyuan city of Yantai, and properties project in Laishan district.

Zhang Shuping, Party secretary of Yantai, delivered a keynote speech. According to Zhang, economic and trade cooperation between Yantai and Japan has been growing since the reform and opening-up policy was implemented in 1978.

More than 1,200 Japanese enterprises have invested in Yantai, including 12 Fortune Global 500 companies in Japan such as Mitsubishi Corporation, MITSUI & CO, and Itochu.

Japan is Yantai's second largest trading partner, with imports and exports between the two sides totaling more than 38 billion yuan ($5.51 billion) last year.

Yantai has also become an important supply base for computers, auto parts and agricultural products to Japan.

Yukio Hatoyama, former Japanese prime minister, also expressed wishes for stronger China-Japan cooperation via online video.