The province of Shandong in East China has intensified investment into countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative so as to boost cooperation, said local authorities.

Containers are transported at a port in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, on Jan 12, 2021. [Photo/IC]

According to statistics from the Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce, in the first two months of this year, the province's actual investment in markets related to the Belt and Road Initiative increased by 87.1 percent year-on-year, and up 56.9 percent compared to 2019.

Over the period, the province's paid-up investment in Singapore, Laos and Thailand stood at $190 million, $71.55 million and $20.86 million, up by 255 percent, 72.7 percent and 174.1 percent respectively, an increase of 85.2 percent, 171.6 percent and 346.7 percent over 2019.

Shandong has launched a slew of measures to push ahead high-quality construction of the Belt and Road and make contributions to the early recovery of the world economy. The province has been working to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation as well as advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation amid the global pandemic, said local officials.