The Sino-European Entrepreneurs Qingdao Forum was held on Sept 19 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province.

The Sino-European Entrepreneurs Qingdao Forum is held on Sept 19. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_958d13b8bedc]

Government officials, representatives from domestic and European companies, and leaders of business organizations and investment institutions attended the event.

In his keynote speech during the opening ceremony, Lu Zhiyuan, Party secretary of Qingdao, said Qingdao is an important coastal city in China with prominent geographical advantages, a solid industrial foundation, self-evident openness in terms of reform and international trade and tourism, and a livable and business-friendly urban environment.

The city has laid a strong foundation for further cooperation with Europe. Lu said he hoped the forum would serve as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation with Europe in key industries such as intelligent manufacturing, digital economy, modern services, as well as new and renewable energy.

Qingdao will continue to create a top-notch business environment that is market-oriented, rule-based, and internationalized, and support foreign enterprises to invest and thrive in the city, Lu added.

The forum also organized a variety of activities such as theme-based sub-forums, roundtables, and business visits.

During one sub-forum, representatives from leading companies like Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz, Siemens, Haier, and Tsingtao Brewery engaged in exchanges on the topics of "Digital Sustainability: Shaping the Future through Innovation and Responsibility" and "Chinese Brands Going Global: New Trends, New Paths, and New Media". They discussed new opportunities for economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between China and Europe.

Participants attend the forum. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_958d13b8bedc]

To showcase Qingdao's achievements in cooperation with Europe and enhance confidence in collaboration, a special exhibition of Qingdao-Europe cooperation outcomes was organized during the forum.

It highlighted local companies and parks such as Haier, Hisense, Tsingtao Brewery, Aucma, and Sino-Germany Ecopark, as well as over 10 top European companies including AstraZeneca, Airbus, and Alstom that have invested in projects in Qingdao.

Up to now, Europe has invested in 1,855 projects in Qingdao, with a total foreign capital of $6.43 billion. Qingdao has invested in 218 projects in Europe, with a total investment of over $3 billion. In 2022, their bilateral trade volume approached $24 billion.

The Sino-European Entrepreneurs Qingdao Forum has been playing a bridging role in promoting cooperation between Qingdao and Europe. It will gradually become an important platform for Qingdao's foreign exchange and opening up, said local officials.

A number of cooperative projects are signed at the forum. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_958d13b8bedc]