The 2025 Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit Qingdao Forum started on Nov 20 in Qingdao, marking a significant moment as China and the European Union celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The forum facilitates in-depth dialogue and collaborative innovation between Chinese and European businesses, with a focus on smart manufacturing, green technology, and the blue economy.

For Qingdao, a city known for its high-standard openness, the event offers a platform to showcase its unique appeal as a strategic gateway for European entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in China.

The collaboration between Qingdao and Europe has flourished over the past five decades. It began in 1984 with the introduction of refrigerator production technology from Germany's Liebherr to Haier, planting an early seed of hope for industrial partnering.

Today, this seed has grown into a towering tree. In 2024, trade between Qingdao and Europe reached 182.68 billion yuan ($25.67 billion), accounting for 20.1 percent of the city's total import and export volume.

Currently, European companies have established 1,732 projects in Qingdao with $6.41 billion in actual utilized investment, including 81 new European-funded enterprises in the first three quarters of this year. Giants such as Maersk, AstraZeneca, and Nestlé have deepened their roots in Qingdao.

In 2024, Qingdao recorded nine outbound investment projects to Europe with Chinese-contracted investment totaling $725 million. The city has also established sister-city relationships with 27 European cities, fostering active exchanges across trade, culture, education, and sports.

The 2025 Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit Qingdao Forum marks a significant moment as China and the European Union celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. [Photo/Guanhai News]