Taicang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone covers a total area of 116 square kilometers. [Photo/taicang.gov.cn]

From January to May, Taicang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone's investment promotion reached record new highs in registered foreign investment, paid-in foreign investment, and the number of new German investors, local media reported on June 18.

In this period, the zone's registered foreign investment totaled $329 million, accounting for 33.2 percent of the city's total. Its paid-in investment reached $240 million, accounting for 44.3 percent of the city's total. Nine German companies also signed agreements to launch projects in the high-tech zone.

"We have decided to set up a fast data transmission line from Taicang to Frankfurt, Germany. It will be the first of its kind in China and offer better information service to Chinese and German companies," said a senior director of the high-tech zone.

In January, Maritim Hotel Taicang signed an agreement with the local government to open as the first German hotel in Taicang, marking that the city's cooperation with German companies has entered the service industry.

In May, Taicang-based Land Group signed a cooperation agreement with Siemens AG (China) to promote the building and operation of a smart industrial park featuring digital transformation solutions for industrial companies. It will also help companies reduce their carbon emissions.

Taicang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone is currently negotiating over 30 German-invested projects, which will bring the total number of German companies in Taicang to 400.