Wang Zhonglin, Party secretary of Jinan, speaks at a Jinan-France investment and cooperation promotion conference. [Photo/jinannews.cn]

A delegation from Jinan, headed by Wang Zhonglin, the city's Party secretary, visited France and Italy from Oct 22 to 29.

The trip was meant to strengthen cooperation with the two countries in intelligent manufacturing, biomedicine, sci-tech innovation, international conferences and exhibitions, culture, and tourism.

The delegation visited a number of local governments, universities, leading companies, and organizations. In the end, 17 projects were discussed and four cooperation agreements were signed.

Air Liquide, a Fortune Global 500 company, reached a cooperation intention agreement with a Jinan-based life science firm involved in the R&D and manufacturing of liquid nitrogen low temperature storage systems.

GL events, a leading event organizer, signed a cooperation agreement with Jinan Culture and Tourism Development Group to introduce international exhibitions and large-scale contests and activities to Jinan.

Biomerieux, a renowned biotech firm in France, decided to set up a laboratory in Jinan, which will focus on the R&D of molecular diagnosis technology.

The International Federation of Photographic Art agreed to hold an international cultural photography festival and photography competition in Jinan.

The Prospective and Innovation Foundation promised to send sci-tech and cultural experts to visit Jinan and help the city apply for World Cultural Heritage status.

In a meeting with Italian government officials, the two sides discussed promoting cooperation between small and medium-sized companies and attracting more Italian companies to Jinan.