A container ship docks at Qingdao Port, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhang Jingang/For China Daily]

The province of Shandong has been promoting cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through a number of channels under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative, according to local authorities.

The two sides have maintained frequent high-level visits, deepening mutual trust and expanding trade and economic ties.

Gong Zheng, former governor of Shandong province (now mayor of Shanghai), led a delegation to the Philippines in March 2019.

Wang Liang, deputy chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial People's Congress, led a delegation to visit Vietnam and Thailand in late May of last year.

Ren Airong, vice-governor of Shandong province, visited Singapore in December 2019 with a government delegation.

Shandong has advanced economic and trade ties with Singapore by making full use of existing cooperation mechanisms.

The Singapore-Shandong Business Council (SSBC), established in November 1993, was the first bilateral business council formed between Singapore and a Chinese province.

Over the past 27 years, thanks to joint efforts by both sides, the trade volume between Shandong and Singapore has continued to expand.

Last year, imports and exports between Shandong and Singapore reached a value of $2.57 billion, 12 times more than when the SSBC was first established.

Singapore has become the fifth largest investor in Shandong province, while 23 Shandong companies are listed in Singapore.

The two sides are continuing to increase cooperation in finance, urban management, education, culture, sports, and port development.