Investment promotions, roadshows and other marketing activities embarked upon by the city of Baotou - located in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region - are widely said to have achieved significant results at the start of 2022, with expectations of more to come for the remainder of the year.

It is understood that the city had attracted the interest of 569 companies in the wake of investment promotions as of Feb 18. What's more, a total of 158 projects have signed up, with total contracted investments of about 220.27 billion yuan ($34.94 billion). Additionally, 68 projects have been registered and eight projects have started construction.

The first foreign academicians workstation settled in the Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, reportedly injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of the rare earth industry in Baotou.

Tumd Right Banner, administered by Baotou city, launched key project approvals and "centralized approval month" activities - and went through the preliminary procedures for six projects on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Qingshan district of Baotou signed 18 project cooperation agreements, with a planned investment of 3.5 billion yuan.

Moving forwards, plans are for Baotou to expand the breadth and depth of its investment promotion programs. This year's goal is to ensure that more than 1,000 projects will be signed up throughout the year and that domestic funds in place will increase by 15 percent.

In addition, Baotou will hold a series of activities - such as investment promotions conferences - in cities like Beijing and Shenzhen, as well as the second Modern Energy Industry Conference, and the 14th Rare Earth Industry Forum.