A delegation from the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, known as Qingdao FTZ, attended the Appliance & Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2025 and the Haier Smart Home Ecosystem Conference 2025 in Shanghai on March 19 and 20. The visit aimed to accelerate the development of the smart home appliance industry and foster innovation within the ecosystem.

During their visit, the delegation agreed on deep cooperation with companies such as Haier Group and Germany's Diehl Group, which will inject new momentum into upgrading Qingdao FTZ's smart home appliance industry.

While participating in the AWE 2025, the business delegation actively engaged in discussions and exchanges with exhibiting companies. They established connections with nearly 20 companies, including Germany's Naturaquell Water and Westinghouse Electric, thereby expanding investment resources to enhance and extend the smart home appliance industry chain.

At the Haier Smart Home Ecosystem Conference 2025, the delegation held an investment promotion event for the smart home appliance industry. They presented the industrial ecology and policy advantages of the Qingdao FTZ on-site and engaged in in-depth discussions with nearly 10 companies, including Italy's Cikautxo. Preliminary investment intentions were reached with three companies.

In the next steps, Qingdao FTZ will continue to strengthen the advantages of the smart home appliance industry, promote the dual-center layout of research and development and manufacturing in the innovative smart home appliance industry value chain, and accelerate Qingdao's progress towards becoming a world-class home appliance industry hub.

Visitors flock to the Hisense exhibition area at the Appliances & Electronics World Expo (AWE 2025), which kicked off on March 20 in Shanghai. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]