The Fifth Weifang Development Conference was held in Weifang, East China's Shandong province, on April 3, gathering over 350 academicians, entrepreneurs, and business association representatives from home and abroad to plan the city's future.

Weifang, as a major economic hub, plays a major role in Shandong's efforts to build an important economic growth pole in the northern region, according to Chen Ping, vice-governor of the province. The city is aiming to hit 1 trillion yuan (approximately $145 billion) in GDP by 2028 and establish itself as a regional sub-center city during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30).

The event was geared at attracting talent from across the world to boost the city's development.

"Weifang has rich culture, strong industrial fundamentals, a strategic location, and an excellent business environment. It is currently in a crucial period of rapid development and transformation," said Liu Yun, Party secretary of Weifang, as he introduced the city's recent development at the conference.

The conference featured a signing ceremony for various projects focusing on high-end equipment, new generation information technology, new energy and new materials, modern agriculture, and cultural tourism. Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions revolving around industrial collaboration, technological innovation, talent attraction and cultivation, and regional coordinated development.

Additionally, the conference also featured policy explanations, project matchmaking events, field investigations, and symposiums that brought together government entities, enterprises, universities, and local elites. These efforts are designed to build an efficient platform for government–enterprise dialogue, enterprise–university collaboration, and hometown talent engagement.