A delegation led by Zhang Shuping, Party secretary of Yantai, East China's Shandong province, visited Japan and South Korea from Dec 1 to 8 to expand trade cooperation.

A total of 19 projects worth $2 billion were signed during throughout the delegation's visits to 10 multinational companies, where they attended cooperative conferences and met with business association representatives.

Zhang also took part in promotional conferences which focus on increasing opening-up and strengthening cooperation between Shandong, South Korea and Japan.

At the conferences, Zhang introduced the newly-built Yantai Area of Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone to attendees and invited companies to invest in Yantai.

The delegation also visited several renowned companies in the two countries and eyed further cooperation in the fields of cultural tourism, intelligent manufacturing, high-end chemicals and new generation information technology.

A memorandum of understanding on deepening economic relations and boosting exchange with Pyeongtaek, South Korea was also signed during the visit.