Several large contracts for important projects were signed by delegates at the opening of the new China-Japan regional development cooperation demonstration zone in the port city of Dalian on Monday. Businesspeople from both countries attended with some reaching agreements on collaborative projects.
Eight large contracts were signed with both China and Japan enterprises agreeing to take on different projects within the zone. All of the projects will be built in the 53-square-kilometer zone in Dalian's Jinpu New Area. The zone will mostly be housing companies involved in new-material production and high-end manufacturing equipment. The demonstration zone, one of many across China, will be divided into four - the New Japanese Industrial Park, Huayauankou, Songmu Island and Xizhong Island.
Dalian Communist Party chief Tan Zuojun said the northeastern port city would continue efforts to enhance the business environment in the region. He said the government would take steps to increase its support for enterprises in the new zone. This will include ensuring the smooth and trouble-free completion of new construction.
Tan said Japan had become Dalian's largest trading partner - contributing billions of dollars to the region's economy. Dalian aims to strengthen its partnerships with companies from Japan which have found the city to be one of the best places in China to establish operations.
Dalian has the third most companies from Japan in the world - behind Shanghai and Bangkok. Dalian officials have said the demonstration zone should prove to be an effective way of accelerating the city's goals of becoming a dynamic and attractive location for foreign investment.
The establishment of the China-Japan regional development cooperation demonstration zone began in April after it received approval from the National Development and Reform Commission. The project is part of the country's wider China-Japan regional development cooperation initiative.
Apart from housing high-end enterprises from Japan, officials are also aiming for the demonstration zone to foster more collaboration between China and Japan. This will strengthen the countries' economic ties and encourage additional economic development in northeastern China.
