Zhang Yanling, deputy director of Sinotruk International Department, said that when it comes to his company's international plans, the countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative such as Mongolia, Pakistan and Russia would be prime target markets to explore.

Business commentators said that while digging deep to mine the opportunities for foreign cooperation, Jinan companies have also continued to pursue independent innovation and participated in friendly international competition, to enhance the influence of Jinan's brands.

Jier Machine-Tool Group, known as one of the three major numerical control press equipment manufacturers in the world, provides products widely used in key sectors – such as the auto, aerospace, energy, rail transit and shipbuilding industries – with its exports covering more than 60 countries and regions.

Relying on the development of independent intellectual property rights, the group has in recent years provided turnkey projects for overseas vehicle manufacturers in North America and Southeast Asia, winning recognition from German, US, Japanese and French automakers.

Zhang Shishun, general manager of Jier Machine-Tool Group, said that the company had won orders for large press lines from Nissan North America, Nissan Kyushu and French Peugeot Citroen and has carried out 24 projects in 13 countries, highlighting its global influence as a Chinese and Jinan manufacturing brand.

Currently, Jinan has had economic and commercial exchanges with some 190 countries and regions. Over 1,000 foreign-invested companies have operated in the city, which has drawn investment from 129 Fortune Global 500 companies.

Last year, Jinan's total imports and exports were worth 93.6 billion yuan and foreign investment totaled 17.89 billion yuan.

Officials said that in the future, Jinan will speed up the construction of an open economic system and continue to deepen cooperation in various fields with more companies, as well as build the Jinan area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone into a new pathfinder for China's opening-up.