To strengthen regular contracts with guests of the Qingdao Multinationals Summit, and solicit their opinions and suggestions on the third edition of this summit, the Roadshow and Reciprocal Reception of Qingdao Multinationals Summit (Shanghai) was held successfully in Shanghai. The event was hosted by the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, the Secretariat of Qingdao Multinationals Summit and the Shanghai Business Representative Office of the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province. Cui Hongguang, Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, attended and addressed the summit. Also present were heads of overseas institutions in China such as US-China Business Council (USCBC), ZF and MUFG Bank, as well as heads of associations, chambers of commerce and multinational corporations (MNCs) in China such as Shanghai Foreign Investment Association, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Ford and Bayer.
The attendees exchanged views on taking good advantage of the summit under the new development pattern to strengthen MNCs' cooperation with China and Shandong. Addressing the summit, Cui said, in recent years, Shandong has implemented eight development strategies, pressed ahead with nine reforms, fostered 10 modern advantageous industrial clusters in an accelerated manner, maintained steady growth and improved development quality. With an ever-improving business environment, Shandong has become a popular investment destination for MNCs. To date 219 out of Fortune Global 500 have invested in Shandong. In the first 10 months of this year, Shandong registered a total investment of 18.1 billion U.S. dollars in actual use, up 43.5% year on year, 20.1% above the national level; and reported total imports and exports of 2.387 trillion yuan, up 36% year on year, including exports of 1.40703 trillion yuan, up 38.9% year on year and imports of 979.97 billion yuan, up 31.9% year on year. MNCs are welcome to seek common development in Shandong and share new opportunities from China's national strategies.
Addressing the summit, Melinda Xu, Shanghai Chief Representative of USCBC, said U.S.-funded enterprises remain committed to the long-term development of the Chinese market. Shandong has maintained a strong momentum in the opening year of the "fourteenth five-year" period, with lots of opportunities emerging in industries such as biomedicine, high-end manufacturing, new energy, high-end consumer goods, electronic information and automotive manufacturing, she noted, hoping that USCBC would enhance its member enterprises' understanding of Shandong through the summit, a high-level open platform. USCBC expects to better leverage its role as a bridge and link in facilitating U.S.-funded enterprises' investment in Shandong, so as to achieve win-win.
Addressing the summit, Yamato Kenichi, President of MUFG Bank (China) Ltd., said he was pleased to attend the summit as a member of its advisory committee and the summit has played a positive role in promoting the cooperation between MNCs and China. Now Shandong is accelerating industrial transformation and upgrading, he noted, adding that MUFG Bank would go all out to promote the fast development of Shandong's economy.
Addressing the summit, Dr. Ai Zhouping, President of Heraeus Greater China Regional Headquarters, said he was honored to have attended the 2019 and 2021 editions of the summit, witnessing the ever-improving business environment and economic prosperity of Shandong. Heraeus valuing China as its most important market will continue to increase investment in China, keep upgrading its production facilities and improving its R&D capacity, and step up local innovation with the philosophy of "serving China in China", so as to create more opportunities for win-win cooperation.
Addressing the summit, Sherman Lee, CEO of Forbes China, said the summit is a platform for MNCs to know about China's policies and investment environment, as well as an important window for exchanges between China and the world in the new era. As China is opening wider to the outside world, it has seen a more market-oriented, legalized and internationalized business environment, showing the world its economic stability and growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the leaders present were Chen Jinxiu, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Representative Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province; and Zhang Qingwei, Full-time Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of Qingdao Multinationals Summit.