An online signing ceremony for 15 foreign-funded projects is held through video conference on March 18 in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/dzwww.com]

A total of 15 foreign-funded projects worth 14.32 billion yuan ($2.02 billion) were signed through video conference on March 18 in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province.

The 15 projects, with a total contractual foreign investment of $370 million, focus on medical health, high-end equipment manufacturing, new materials, modern finance, modern services, cultural tourism and more, and are expected to further promote the development of an export-oriented economy in Tai'an.

The construction project being carried out on the main campus of the Shandong Vocational Institute of Engineering will be able to enroll 30,000 students after being put into operation. The institute will also provide classes to 5,000 social workers every year to help promote the development of the local service industry. Over 1,500 jobs will be provided in Daiyue district as well.

With an investment of 5 billion yuan, a comprehensive ocean-themed park integrating science education, ecological sightseeing and leisure will be built in Cuwen Scenic Area.

Cui Honggang, Party secretary of Tai'an city, said during the signing ceremony that Tai'an will work to make innovations in project promotion and signing through the use of the internet and other advanced technologies, in order to maintain economic growth amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.