The 2018 China Nantong-Japan Investment and Cooperation Conference, jointly organized by the Nantong municipal Party committee and Nantong government, opened in Nantong, Jiangsu province on Dec 4.

Nearly 100 executives from Japanese enterprises attended the conference. some enterprises have settled in Shanghai and invested in Nantong, including Marubeni Corporation, Toray Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Lu Zhipeng, Party secretary of Nantong, delivered a keynote speech on the history and current situation of the exchanges and cooperation between Nantong and Japan, as well as the economic and social development of Nantong.

Lu said that Nantong is striving to become the economic center of the north wing of the Yangtze River Delta, a national comprehensive transportation hub, and an innovative city with a livable environment.

The 2018 China Nantong-Japan Investment and Cooperation Conference opens in Nantong, Jiangsu province on Dec 4. [Photo/WeChat account: wxntfb]

Lu Zhipeng, Party secretary of Nantong, delivers a keynote speech at the conference, Dec 4. [Photo/WeChat account: wxntfb]

According to Lu, Nantong is looking forward to deepen the exchanges and cooperation with Japan to attract more enterprises and talents. Nantong will provide efficient services and preferential governmental policies for Japanese investors.

Michiaki Oguri, president of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Shanghai, said that Nantong boasts unique geographical advantages, sound investment environment and human resources, and now a large number of Japanese enterprises have settled in the city.

Oguri hoped that Nantong and Japan would take the opportunity of the conference to deepen cooperation, promote the industrial upgrading and create more business opportunities to achieve synergetic development.

Nantong has been cooperating with Japan for a long time. Zhang Jian, a pioneer of China’s modern industry, went to Japan to study advanced ideas in advancing civilization 100 years ago. Since China’s reform and opening-up in 1978, many Japanese enterprises have invested in Nantong. Nantong has established friendships with Japan’s Toyohashi and Izumi.

Japan has become the second largest source of foreign capital and the fourth largest trading partner of Nantong, with 1,370 enterprises having settled in the city. The actual utilization of Japanese capital in Nantong amounts to $4.3 billion, accounting for more than 10 percent of the total foreign capital utilized in the city. The imports and exports to Japan account for more than 20 percent of the city's total.