On September 9, the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area (SDPFTZ Qingdao Area) and the Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark held an international economic and trade cooperation matchmaking event, aiming to build a communication platform, accurately match supply and demand, and promote industrial cooperation. Gao Shanwu, Deputy Secretary of the Qingdao West Coast New Area Working Committee, Director of the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area Management Committee, and Director of the Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark Management Committee, attended and addressed the event. Nearly 100 delegates from 15 countries, including Germany and Saudi Arabia, participated.

Gao stated in his speech that a pilot free trade zone is a higher-level platform for opening up to the outside world, and that developing the marine industry and deepening international cooperation are important tasks China assigned to the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area. Since its approval, the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area has fully leveraged its unique geographical location and policy advantages to establish a free and convenient trade service model and create a high-quality, world-class business environment, making it a preferred destination for domestic and international investment. Currently, the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area is accelerating the implementation of the free trade pilot zone upgrading strategy, expanding high-level opening-up, deepening subnational economic and trade cooperation with Germany, and speeding up the cultivation of a modern marine industry system with international competitiveness. This will allow more enterprises to innovate and start businesses in the zone with peace of mind, continuously growing and becoming stronger.

Liu Yin, Chief Representative of the Shandong Representative Office of the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BVMW), said that BVMW will actively serve as a bridge to precisely match the technological needs and cooperation intentions of German companies, and work together to tell Qingdao's story. She wished more German partners to integrate into the new development process of Qingdao, jointly explore vast markets, and create a new chapter of cooperation.

During the event, a relevant department of the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area gave a special presentation on its development, and representatives from companies such as German LOGOMAT and BGI Genomics shared their development experience. After the event, the delegations visited BGI Genomics, Diehl Controls, Haier Air Conditioning, and the fully automated container terminal at Qingdao Port.

The attendees also included Zhou Liang, Director of the Trade and Investment Service Center of the Shandong Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and Zhang Yunqing, Deputy Director of the Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark Management Committee.