Deputy Chief of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Mayor of Qingdao Ren Gang met with the delegation taking part in the Foreign Consular Officials’ Qingdao Visit on the evening of June 23.

Ren Gang welcomed the delegation and noted that Qingdao is a major coastal central city in China, endowed with superior natural conditions, a distinctive urban landscape, deep cultural heritage, a solid industrial foundation, significant openness, a pronounced maritime character, and a first-rate business environment. He stated that the city, in its thorough implementation of President Xi Jinping's important instructions concerning Shandong and Qingdao's development, is actively leveraging high-level opening-up to drive high-quality growth to accelerate the construction of a modern international metropolis. He expressed the hope that consular officials would, through this visit, gain an in-depth understanding of Qingdao and actively facilitate local cooperation, while affirming the readiness of Qingdao's administration to work with all parties to deepen economic and trade exchanges, enhance cultural interaction, and strengthen local ties to make greater contributions to the advancement of bilateral relations.

Consul General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai Vladislav Spasov, speaking on behalf of foreign consular officers in China, described Qingdao as a global port city with a thriving marine industry and a key Northeast Asian shipping hub. He noted its strong appeal to international tourists and foreign investors and expressed his readiness to actively facilitate communication and exchanges with Qingdao to foster more cooperation outcomes.

Officials from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the CPC were also in attendance during the meeting.