On November 27th, "RCEP and Shandong's Opportunities" Seminar was held in Yanshan campus. More than 60 experts and scholars attended the seminar, including Prof. Song Zhiyong, Director of Asia Institute under the Institute of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, Prof. Tu Xinquan, PrIncipal of China WTO Research Institute from the University of International Business and Economics, and leaders of relevant departments such as CCPIT, Department of Commerce, Foreign Affairs Office, and responsible persons of relevant departments and schools of the University. President Zhao Zhongxiu participated and chaired the seminar.

In his reportentitled"Building New Heights for Shandong's Opening to the Outside under the Multilateral International Backgrounds", Zhao Zhongxiu points out that, on the occasion of the urgent need of recovery in the global economy, the signing of the RCEP represents Chinese government's determination and confidence on its all-round opening up to the outside world, releasing strong signals of opposing unilateralism and protectionism. He also believes that the signing of the RCEP has provided wonderful opportunities for Shandong Pilot Free Trade Zone to leverage up and make breakthroughs in promoting its service trade. He suggests that Shandong Province should continue to stabilize the export to Japan and the ROK, actively develop the import from RCEP partners, and maintain the trade balance reasonably. Efforts should also be made to build Japan-ROK Exclusive Zones and Cooperation Zones, in order to deepen regional economic cooperation between China, Japan and the ROK, and build new heights for Shandong’s opening up to the world.

After keynote speeches presented by Prof. SongZhiyong, Prof. TuXinquan and Prof. Bai Jie respectively in the theme of RCEP and East Asia Regional Economic Cooperation, RCEP and utilization of foreign capital, and RCEP’s opportunities for Shandong’s small and medium sized companies, Mr. Sun Qiang, Director of Development and Research Department of CCPIT Shandong sub-council, Mr. Liu Dejun, Director of Strategic Planning Institute of Shandong Macro Economic Research Institute, Mr. Hu Wenxing, Secretary of Party Group and President of CCPIT Weifang sub-council, Mr. Dong Xiaoli, Director of Asian-American Division of Jinan Foreign Affairs Office, and Mr. Wang Zhenghong, Deputy Director of Publication and Research Division of Shandong Foreign Affairs Office made speeches successively. Meanwhile, they expressed their willingness to join hands with SDUFE Institute for China-Japan-Korea Studies in building up a cooperation and exchange platform to promote regional people-to-people and trade exchanges and industrial cooperation. It is hoped that the Institute will play its leading and decision-making consulting role as a high-end think tank, serve the major projects of the transformation of old driving forces and the construction of new highland for Shandong's opening up, provide more high-end talents for enterprises, and make greater contributions for Shandong province in its broader opening-up and cooperation between China, Japan and South Korea.