Qingdao and Kawasaki signed a cooperative partnership contract when Takao Abe, a principal of Kawasaki, together with a business delegation, visited Qingdao on May 22, Xinmin.cn reported.

According to the Qingdao municipal business bureau, Japan has invested 27 projects worth $699.6 million in Qingdao from January to May, a 3.85 percent year-on-year growth.

So far, Qingdao has developed cooperative relationships with 60 cities and trade partnerships with five cities around the world. Qingdao has also developed extensive communications with other cities in sectors such as water transportation, education, tourism and sports.

Qingdao will utilize its geographic advantages and opportunities posed by the negotiations for the China-Japan-South Korea FTA to promote international cooperation development.

Edited by Michael Thai, Li Xiaoliang and Gao Yuan