The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province has been promoting economic collaboration with Shanghai, and learning from the global metropolis' advanced development approaches and practices.

The Forum of Capital Enabling High-quality Development and the annual meeting of the Qingdao-Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association is held on Jan 18. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Forum of Capital Enabling High-quality Development and the annual meeting of the Qingdao-Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association was held on Jan 18 in both Shanghai and Qingdao with over 30 business leaders from Fortune 500 companies and industry giants, experts from investment and tech communities and government officials in attendance.

Yu Yu, director of the organization department of the CPC Qingdao municipal committee, said that Qingdao has dispatched cadres to Shanghai for professional training, which has built a bridge for exchanges and cooperation between the two cities.

Yu noted that Qingdao's trained officials have brought back Shanghai's advanced concepts, experience and practices to the city, injecting new vitality into the high-quality economic and social development of Qingdao.

Government officials and enterprise representatives listen to a keynote speaker during the event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over the past year, the Qingdao-Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association has effectively promoted economic cooperation between the two cities with a number of high-level projects having settled in Qingdao, added Yu.

Yu expressed hope that the Qingdao-Shanghai Entrepreneurs Association will continue to give full play to its advantages, set a good stage for the two cities' entrepreneurs, and serve them well.

Yu hoped that enterprises in both cities will complement each other's advantages and improve together to play a greater role in expanding the opening-up process and continue the high-quality development of the two economies in a new development pattern.

Cooperation agreements for seven financial industry projects were signed during the event.

Qingdao and Shanghai ink cooperation agreements for seven financial industry projects during the event. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]