Longjing seeks wider partnership in Ningbo, Zhejiang

The Longjing-Xiangshan Economic Cooperation Promotion Conference was held in Ningbo, a city in East China’s Zhejiang province on Dec 3, according to the organizers.

The keenly anticipated event was hosted by the governments of Xiangshan county in Ningbo, and Longjing city in Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, in Northeast China’s Jilin province.

Representatives from more than 240 companies in Zhejiang province participated in the event, as well as more than 50 representatives from Longjing city.

Dignitaries attending the meeting included Yan Weiguo, deputy secretary-general of Ningbo municipal government, Lou Guowen, deputy governor of Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture and Quan Dajie, mayor of Longjing.

Food from Longjing city -- such as rice, matsutake and spicy cabbage -- were cooked for attendees. Entertainment from Longjing was staged at the event, including a long-drum dance and fan dance performance.

Addressing the event, Yan Weiguo said that Yanbian and Ningbo had established long-term cooperation in many areas.

He said Ningbo city and Xiangshan county would continue to encourage and support local companies to invest in Longjing and deepen the partnership.

Lou Guowen, deputy governor of Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, said that since 2017, when Ningbo and Yanbian partnered up to reduce poverty, the two places had established multi-level cooperation.

In recent two years, Ningbo has placed aid funding of 532 million yuan ($75.25 million) in Yanbian in 175 assistance projects -- and 37 Ningbo companies invested 2.65 billion yuan in Yanbian.

More than 100 million yuan worth of agricultural products from Yanbian have been sold in Ningbo.

Officials said the city has also given support for Yanbian’s development in education, healthcare, culture, tourism, business and professional training -- helping 28,000 Yanbian people in 251 villages out of poverty, Lou added.

Longjing mayor Quan Dajie, wearing a traditional Korean costume, promoted the city at the event.

He gave a briefing on Longjing and said that it now boasted three pillar industries, namely medicine and healthcare, food processing and tourism.

Quan invited attendees to visit Longjing, to experience folk customs of the Korean ethnic group and invest in the city.

An agreement signing ceremony was held at the event, when five projects valued at 300 million yuan were signed.