With the tagline "Ethical Confucian merchants, embracing innovation", the 4th Conference of Great Business Partners (CGBP) took place from Oct 29 to 30 in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province.

The conference explored the unique synergy between Confucian philosophy and modern commerce, attracting investment and talent on a broader scale. In addition to the opening ceremony, it also featured an exchange event and 11 matchmaking activities. To date, 420 guests have confirmed their attendance, with over 130 from more than 30 countries and regions.

As a prime platform offering cooperation opportunities and promoting new quality productive forces, more than 700 cooperation projects have been signed during the past three editions of the conference.

In 2023, Parker Hannifin Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, sought new growth opportunities amid rising global demand. At the 3rd Conference of Great Business Partners in Jinan, the company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Weifang Parker Hannifin Filtration Products and Systems, signed a green smart-manufacturing project with Weifang in Shandong.

The 250-million-yuan ($35.2 million) project, completed in December 2024, includes a modern industrial plant with three new production lines and seven sets of automated equipment, introducing advanced filtration technologies from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Impressed by such "Shandong speed", Parker Hannifin Corporation relocated its Shanghai plant and China headquarters to Weifang. With dedicated support from the local government, the new Weifang factory became Parker's largest filtration-product base in the Asia-Pacific. Fully operational, it can produce 7.5 million filters and 3,000 air purifiers annually, generating over 600 million yuan in industrial output and 200 million yuan in exports.