On 22 September 2025, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) and the Province of Shandong welcomed distinguished guests to Bekaert Headquarters in Zwevegem for an exclusive seminar showcasing Shandong’s dynamic business environment and vast potential for cooperation.
The event was opened by Ms. Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director of the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) and theEU-China Business Association (EUCBA), and featured in-depth presentations:
Mr. Yu Lei, Chief Representative of Shandong Province and Shandong Economic & Trade Representative Office in Europe
Mr. Zhang Gang, Vice Mayor of Weihai Municipal People’s Government
Mrs. Annie Xu-Huhmann, Divisional CEO Rubber Reinforcement, Member of the Bekaert Group Executive. She shared the company’s investment experience in Shandong and highlighted the highly efficient government support in Weihai. The Weihai plant has become the world’s largest single steel cord production base of the Bekaert Group.
Mr. Thierry Schmidt, Chairman of Esco Group, underlined China’s essential role in Esco’s growth. Esco China today holds a 50–60% market share in metro projects, with 100% local manufacturing and strong support from Shandong’s industrial subcontractors and suppliers.
Participants gained valuable insights into Shandong’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, green energy, healthcare, IT, and international trade and heard about success stories from Belgian companies, including Bekaert and Esco Group. The morning concluded with a tour of Bekaert and a lunch meeting chaired by CEO Yves Kerstens, fostering lively exchanges and new connections with the Shandong delegation.
Mr. Carl Decaluwé, Governor of the Province of West-Flanders, joined the event.
Interested in joining the European Industry visit to Weihai on 10–11 November? Please contact: gwenn.sonck@flanders-china.be
Shandong & Weihai: Strengths and Opportunities for Belgian Businesses
Shandong Province
Shandong, located in Eastern China, is one of the country’s most important provinces, with a population exceeding one hundred million people and extensive land and sea areas of around 160,000 square kilometers each. It is a major hub of connectivity with hundreds of maritime and air routes, and its ports rank first in China for cargo throughput, positioning the province as a global gateway for energy and raw materials.
Economically, Shandong is consistently the third largest contributor to China’s GDP, which reached CNY9.86 trillion in 2024. Consumption also ranks third nationwide, at CNY3.79 trillion. The province boasts a comprehensive industrial base, with all forty-one industrial categories represented and more than one hundred products ranking in the top three nationwide. Agriculture is another strong pillar, generating CNY1.28 trillion in 2024, the highest value in the country.
Shandong is open to international collaboration, maintaining ties with over two hundred countries and regions, and hosting subsidiaries of 236 Fortune 500 companies. Foreign trade in 2024 amounted to 3.38 trillion RMB, and bilateral trade with Belgium alone reached 16.96 billion RMB.
Opportunities for Belgian Businesses
• Biomedicine and healthcare: new avenues for joint research and production.
• Clean energy: collaboration in solar power, hydrogen technologies, storage systems, and smart grids.
• Advanced manufacturing: expansion of industrial partnerships and technological exchange.
• Agriculture and agri-food: cooperation along the full agricultural value chain, from production to processing.
• Trade and logistics: development of cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouses.
• Two-way investment: Shandong welcomes Belgian investment with supportive government services and an open business climate.
Weihai City
Weihai, a coastal city in Eastern Shandong, has nearly one thousand kilometers of coastline, high air quality, and numerous national awards for its ecological environment. It has built a robust blue economy, producing more than three million tons of aquatic products annually and leading in advanced processing of marine resources. High-sea fisheries, including tuna and squid, are also growing rapidly. In terms of energy, Weihai has developed a comprehensive green energy structure combining nuclear, wind, solar, and storage, with an installed capacity of more than 7.6 gigawatts.
Weihai’s geographic position offers strategic access to South Korea and Japan, with a flight to Seoul taking only forty‑five minutes. The city is a national pilot zone for services and cross-border e-commerce, and it maintains trade relations with more than two hundred countries and regions. It hosts nearly 1,900 foreign-funded enterprises and achieved more than 200 billion RMB in foreign trade in 2024. Its customs system is unique in China, integrating sea, land, air, rail, and postal supervision to reduce clearance time by five hours and costs by 30%.
Weihai’s manufacturing base is equally strong, with more than fifteen thousand enterprises and over three thousand product types. Seven categories of products rank first globally. The city is home to eight specialized industrial clusters: - Next-generation IT - Pharmaceuticals and medical devices - Advanced machinery and smart manufacturing - Carbon fiber composites - Marine biology and healthy food - Fashion and sports - New energy - Health and tourism.
Weihai is also a global hub for the laser printer supply chain, producing around twenty-two million units annually, equivalent to one-fifth of the world’s total output.
The city fosters innovation through eleven universities and various research institutes, driving advances in surgical robotics, high-performance carbon fiber, aerospace materials, and ocean observation technologies. Its efficient business environment is another strength, with licenses issued in less than one day and full project procedures completed in just thirty-nine days.
Opportunities for Belgian Businesses
• Integration in industrial clusters: participation in IT, medical devices, advanced machinery, carbon composites, and new energy.
• Marine economy: collaboration in sustainable aquaculture, advanced food processing, and marine food technology.
• Laser printer supply chain: partnerships in components, materials, and services for a highly localized industry.
• Green energy: joint projects in solar, wind, nuclear, and storage technologies.
• Trade facilitation: leveraging Weihai’s unique customs system for faster and cheaper logistics, especially toward South Korea and Japan.
• Innovation partnerships: cooperation with universities and institutes for research and industrial pilots.
• Business establishment: benefiting from fast-track registration and supportive government services.
Conclusion
Shandong Province and Weihai City both stand out for their economic vitality, comprehensive industrial systems, openness to the world, and commitment to innovation and green growth. For Belgian businesses, they offer significant opportunities in key sectors such as healthcare, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, agri-food, marine industries, and digital commerce.
