The 12th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair was held from Oct 29 to 31 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province, in a bid to promote deeper business ties and uncover potential investment opportunities.

The 12th EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair opens in grand style on Oct 30 in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Zhu Ying/ qingdaonews.com]

Nearly 600 political and business elites from China and Europe took part in the event, including Liu Jianjun, deputy mayor of Qingdao, Laurent Bochereau, head of the Science, Technology and Environment Section at the Delegation of the European Union to China, François Cuillandre, mayor of the French city of Brest, and representatives of the Regione Siciliana's industry ministry.

Organized by the Qingdao municipal government, the event featured a series of forums, matching conferences and exhibitions focusing on the marine industry, scientific research and innovations, environmental technology, new energy applications, and intelligent manufacturing.

Nearly 600 political and business elites from China and Europe take part in the fair, which focuses on marine industry, scientific research and innovations, and intelligent manufacturing, among other fields. [Photo by Zhu Ying/ qingdaonews.com]

Having been successfully held 11 times, this was the third consecutive year that the event was in Qingdao. A total of 25 EU countries took part, including the UK, France, and Germany.

With more than 190 European enterprises negotiating partnerships with about 300 Qingdao-based companies, the fair was an important platform for EU member countries and China to forge an ever-closer relationship and discuss further opportunities for cooperation.