Yantai in East China's Shandong province has expanded its ties with South Korea beyond ceremonial exchanges to foster concrete industrial cooperation. The shift was formalized at a trade event this week that drew over 150 government and business representatives.

The Yantai-South Korea Sister-City Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange, held Nov 2-5, produced memoranda of understanding on green and low-carbon industry with Gunsan and on biomedicine with Pyeongtaek, according to the Yantai municipal government.

More than 10 preliminary cooperation agreements were reached during face-to-face business matchmaking sessions. These include links between Pyeongtaek Port and Yantai Port, and between a South Korean e-commerce association and Yantai's comprehensive bonded zone.

Gunsan Mayor Kim Jae-jun, visiting his first overseas city since taking office, said he was struck by the breadth of industry in Yantai. He proposed closer collaboration in renewable batteries, semiconductor parks and the low-carbon economy.

Pyeongtaek Mayor Choi Won-yong, whose city built its growth on semiconductors, identified biomedicine as a next-generation core industry. He pointed to joint research, market access and logistics networks as areas where the two port cities could combine strengths.

The agreements build on three decades of sister-city relations. Gunsan, which became Yantai's first South Korean sister-city in 1994, and Pyeongtaek are among the eight Korean cities with formal ties to Yantai.

More than 4,000 Korean-invested projects have taken root in the city, with cumulative utilized Korean investment approaching $7 billion, according to official figures.

Yantai Mayor Zhang Mingkang framed the shift in practical terms. He said the city's green development priorities align closely with those of Gunsan and Pyeongtaek, and that the two memoranda create a framework for regular business exchanges rather than one-off gestures.

Korean delegations also toured Yantai facilities such as Wanhua Chemical's global R&D center and RemeGen Biomedicine Park, taking cooperation beyond signed agreements and into practical engagement.