The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province has maintained close economic and business cooperation with the United States in recent years, according to local authorities.

Official data showed that last year, Qingdao's imports and exports with the US totaled $9.81 billion. Of this total, the export value stood at $7.89 billion while imports hit $1.92 billion.

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong porvince [Photo/VCG]

Qingdao's exports to the US include machinery and equipment, transportation facilities, textiles, electrical and electronic products, metal products, clothing and more.

The commodities Qingdao imports from the US mainly include grain, instruments, machinery and equipment, frozen fish, electrical and electronic products, and cotton.

By the end of June this year, US-based companies had invested in a total of 2,013 projects in Qingdao, with actual foreign investment reaching $4.78 billion.

In the first half of this year, Qingdao received 22 projects funded by US companies, with actual foreign investment of $95.79 million. The newly-established projects included the Heinz (Qingdao) Food Co, Federal Mogul Deva Qingdao Automotive Parts Co, and the Qingdao facility of Clark Material Handling.

Qingdao has invested a total of 281 projects in the US, with approved Chinese investment totaling $10.63 billion. Renowned Qingdao-based companies such as Haier, Hisense, and CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co have opened branches in the US.