China US Photo: VCG

 The chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) attended a regional commerce cooperation event recently, together with representatives of other commerce chambers, which again proves that China is committed to opening its market to foreign businesses and that its investment climate has continued to improve. It came after media reports about the closure of the American Chamber of Commerce in Southwest China (AmCham Southwest).

Greg Gilligan, chairman of AmCham China, attended the Shandong Dialogue on August 20, the chamber said. 
 
According to the Department of Commerce of East China’s Shandong Province, the event aims to strengthen matchmaking, deepen cooperation, seek common development with the majority of business associations, and join hands to create a bright future of cooperation and win-win cooperation between Shandong and business associations. 
 
Other representatives of foreign chambers of commerce in China also participated online, including Giulia Gallarati, secretary general of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC).

The meeting offered a chance to identify new development opportunities in Shandong and explore new areas to deepen cooperation between the province and the chambers of commerce, said the CICC.
 
At the virtual event, Gilligan highlighted AmCham China’s previous cooperation with the Shandong Department of Commerce. The two jointly hosted the Shandong-US Business Week in 2017 and have developed a deepened trust and increased understanding. 

Gilligan reaffirmed AmCham China’s praise of Shandong’s determination to open up further. AmCham China will continue to advocate for more American companies to be involved in Shandong’s key industries and projects.

Foreign investment in Shandong reached $12.53 billion in the first seven months of 2021, an increase of 68.5 percent year-on-year. 

AmCham Southwest is not affiliated with AmCham China, the main US business group based in Beijing. The latter has three chapters – in Tianjin, Northeast China and Central China.

A signing ceremony was also held during the event. A total of 50 agreements and projects,were signed ainvolving a new generation of information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing, cultural tourism, medical care and health, ecological and environmental protection and other fields.