The 3rd China-Japan Industrial Innovation and Development Exchange Conference and the 2023 Japan (Shandong) Import Commodities Expo were held from July 20 to 24 in Jinan, the capital of East China's Shandong province.

The event brought together the top five trading companies from Japan, as well as Global Fortune 500 companies, 11 Japanese local government agencies, and more than 300 well-known Japanese trading companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, thousands of domestic buyers attended the event to negotiate and make purchases.

An important platform for promoting Sino-Japanese cooperation, the conference provided an excellent opportunity for Jinan to expand channels for cooperation. The organizers arranged more than 20 activities focusing on investment promotion, economic and trade cooperation, commercial exchanges, and technological innovation.

The conference not only deepened trade and investment integration but also expanded the cooperation for Japanese industries in Jinan and converted exhibitors into investors.

During the event, representatives of Japanese companies recognized Jinan's efforts in optimizing the business environment and promoting high-quality economic development in recent years. Many of them also expressed a strong desire to invest, deepen cooperation, and further explore opportunities in Jinan.

"Since 2017, we have frequently visited Jinan and experienced the rapid economic and social development of the city," said Aritomo Haruhiko, general manager for East Asia of Sumitomo Corporation. "In recent years, we have started to consider cooperation in new energy and other fields to expand and deepen our cooperation with Jinan."

In addition to the fruitful discussions and negotiations, agreements for seven key projects related to areas like environmental protection and energy, modern finance, and commercial circulation were signed.