Yantai artists perform folk music. [Photo provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

Yantai took center stage at a special reception commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China hosted by the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Osaka on Sept 25.

The event was attended by over 700 guests, including Japanese political and business figures, overseas Chinese, representatives of Chinese institutions, and international students.

Yantai, as the event's exclusive partner and featured city, showcased its growth opportunities in clean energy, green petrochemicals, aerospace, and biopharmaceuticals to both domestic and foreign guests.

The art of Yantai dough modeling attracts curious spectators. [Photo provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

Cultural exchange activities, including a food festival, exhibition of intangible cultural heritage items, and local art performances, also garnered significant attention.

Yantai's specialty dishes, prepared by Shandong culinary masters, delighted guests with their exquisite flavors. Showcasing the city's deep historical and cultural roots were intangible heritage items like gourd pyrography, Laizhou brushes, and Yantai paper-cutting. Furthermore, musical ensemble performances and traditional dances by Yantai artists highlighted innovation through cultural fusion, emphasizing Yantai's ethos of openness and inclusivity.

Guests admire Yantai cultural products. [Photo provided for chinadaily.com.cn]

Yantai and Japan have been carrying out friendly exchanges for over 2,000 years. Today, Japan is Yantai's third-largest source of foreign investment and third-largest trading partner. Japanese companies have established over 1,400 projects in Yantai, with investments exceeding $3 billion, and bilateral trade exceeding 40 billion yuan ($5.7 billion) annually.

In the future, Yantai will expand cooperation with Japan in green and low-carbon initiatives, high-end equipment, biopharmaceuticals, and new materials, fostering ongoing friendly exchanges.