The Yellow River Basin Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Alliance held a conference in Jinan, Shandong province, on Oct 26, bringing together representatives from FTZs and economic development zones along the river to explore opportunities for industrial cooperation, share successful initiatives and strengthen regional economic ties.

The conference released 19 annual collaborative innovation results and 19 enterprise service items. The innovation results focus on five areas – mutual recognition of rules, logistics and customs clearance, industrial coordination, digital empowerment, and livelihood services. They include mutual recognition of certificates of origin, coordinated China–Europe freight train development, and an innovative combined bonded warehouse model. The service items address enterprises' needs in overseas investment, shipping and trade facilitation, scientific and technological cooperation, and factor supply.

A thematic promotion session focused on cooperation needs, public services, and characteristic industries. Parallel events included a seminar on the spillover effects of FTZ innovation, an industrial matchmaking meeting, and field visits. The matchmaking meeting targeted biomedicine, modern high-end agriculture, new energy, computing networks, and multimodal transport, organizing one-on-one business talks to generate cooperation intentions.

Participants said the alliance has promoted cooperation between inland and coastal regions, strengthened economic ties between eastern and western areas, and encouraged collaboration along the Yellow River. They called for further efforts to improve transportation links, support industrial cooperation and promote innovation across the region.

The industrial collaboration matchmaking conference is held in Jinan Shandong province, to promote industries' collaboration links along the Yellow River Basin. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Attendees check in at the reception at the industrial collaboration matchmaking conference in Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]