Qingdao has a solid industrial foundation and has formed a number of characteristic industrial clusters in the fields of smart home appliances and rail transit. [Photo/Qingdao Daily]

The Qingdao-Hong Kong Industrial Cooperation and Exchange Conference was held in Hong Kong on Dec 12. The event was aimed at building a bridge for two-way investment and interaction between Qingdao and Hong Kong, expanding the space for cooperation and exchange and achieving win-win development.

Representatives from the government and institutions from both cities attended the event, jointly hosted by the Qingdao High-tech Industrial Development Zone Management Committee, the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Qingdao Municipal Committee and the Hong Kong Qingdao Industrial and Commercial Center.

Wang Bo, Qingdao's vice-mayor, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee, said in his speech that Qingdao is an important coastal central city in China, a coastal resort and tourist city, an international port city and a national historical and cultural city. It has a solid industrial foundation and has formed a number of characteristic industrial clusters in the fields of smart home appliances and rail transit.

Since the beginning of reform and opening-up, exchanges between Hong Kong and Qingdao have become increasingly close, with frequent economic and trade exchanges and fruitful cooperation results.

Hong Kong has become an important platform for Qingdao enterprises looking to go global, Wang said, adding that Hong Kong has a number of powerful enterprises, universities and R&D institutions with outstanding innovative capabilities.

It is highly complementary to Qingdao's industries and has huge potential for cooperation, especially in the fields of industrial innovation, modern finance and shipping trade, Wang added.

During the meeting, representatives from relevant industries in the Qingdao High-tech Zone and Hong Kong signed a cooperation agreement to create new space for development.