The Shandong Provincial Capital Economic Circle Cooperation Matchmaking Meeting with Japan kicked off in Jinan, Shandong province on Aug 13.

The event, which was held online and offline, was hosted by the Jinan Municipal People's Government and organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of Jinan Municipal People's Government.

The conference is the first joint effort between seven cities in the Shandong provincial capital economic circle – Jinan, Zibo, Tai'an, Liaocheng, Dezhou, Binzhou and Dongying - to attract investment.

More than 100 companies from Shandong and Japan attended the event, with many expressing their intention to invest in the province.

Leading Japanese logistics company Nippon Express Co and Japanese home appliance retailer Laox Co, both of which started businesses in Jinan in the first half of this year, shared about why they chose to set up operations in the city.

N-Gaea Corporation and Intelpulse Corporation from Japan also expressed their interest in cooperating with enterprises in Jinan and other cities in the provincial capital economic circle.

Officials from the seven cities in the provincial capital economic circle then promoted their investment environment, competitive industries, scientific innovation and industrial parks for attendees.

An official from Shengquan Group said that the company, which has cooperated with Japanese enterprises for more than 10 years, is currently looking for partners in the field of new energy and electronic chemicals. It also expects to forge closer cooperation ties with Japanese companies.

Sun Yebao, vice-director of the Shandong Provincial Foreign Affair Office, said that the conference provided a platform for the promotion of cooperation between Japan and China in various fields.

Sun expressed hope that cities in Shandong will seize the opportunities brought by the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement to deepen cultural and trade ties with Japan.

The Shandong provincial capital economic circle has an ideal geographical location, rich resources, and complete industries. In 2020, the GDP of region surpassed 2.7 trillion yuan ($416.9 billion), accounting for one-third of the province's total.