August 22—On August 21, the seventh installment of the “Cloud Talk Shandong” promotional series, titled “Focusing on Economic Foreign Affairs to Empower Grassroots Development,” made its way to Tai’an. The event was organized by the Office of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, in collaboration with the Communication Department of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, Office of Cyberspace Affairs Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee, Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, and the Shandong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese
The press delegation visited key foreign-related organizations, including Shandong Agricultural University and Feicheng High-tech Industrial Development Zone. Through on-site visits and face-to-face interviews, the delegation documented Tai’an’s efforts to leverage foreign affairs resources to build open platforms, boost industrial momentum, and serve market entities. These efforts vividly portray how foreign affairs resources are injecting fresh vitality into high-quality local development.
University–Local Collaboration Builds International Platform: Shandong Agricultural University Deepens Tai’an’s opening-up and delivers tangible results.
In the laboratory on the first floor of the Guangqi Building at Shandong Agricultural University, Professor Yang Xinghong and his team from the College of Life Sciences are conducting research on crop stress resistance in collaboration with scientific teams from Central and Eastern European countries. This work is carried out under the China-Slovakia Joint Research Center for Crop Photosynthesis and Stress Biology. Meanwhile, Associate Professor Guo Bin from the College of Conservancy and Civil Engineering is advancing the integration of digital water conservancy and smart agriculture technologies with agricultural needs in Central and Eastern Europe via the China-CEEC Digital Agriculture Innovation Platform. Furthermore, Lecturer Guan Hui from the College of Food Science and Engineering is collaborating with Serbian research teams on food processing technologies through the China-Serbia Science and Technology Cooperation Committee project. This partnership has paved the way for Tai’an’s distinctive agricultural products to penetrate European markets.
“In recent years, the university has implemented China’s education opening-up strategy and integrated itself into initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative and the broader agenda of building a strong nation through education. With the overarching concept of ‘High-level and down-to-earth internationalization,’ we have expanded our global collaboration network. We’ve established a pioneering international innovation system spanning the Americas, Europe, neighboring regions, and the Global South, contributing to China’s distinctive great power diplomacy efforts and framing a unique ‘Shandong Agricultural University model’ in international agricultural education and science,” said Wang Li, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department at Shandong Agricultural University. Moving forward, the university plans to actively construct global partnerships, elevate its platform for international collaboration, and contribute “Shandong Agricultural University wisdom” and “Shandong Agricultural University solutions” to Tai’an’s grassroots internationalization efforts.
Smart Upgrades and Innovation: Shandong Aoshi Garments Carves New Path in Foreign Trade
As the largest garment production base in Southwest Shandong, Shandong Aoshi Garments Co., Ltd. spans over 150 acres, employs more than 1,200 staff, and features an internationally standardized suit production industrial park. Having received prestigious accolades such as the “Tai’an Mayor’s Quality Award,” “Shandong Internationally Renowned Brand,” and “China Well-Known Trademark,” the company primarily produces suits, shirts, cashmere coats, and various other export apparel items. Its robust production capacity supports product exports to a wide range of international markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Japan. In 2025, its export value reached 81.66 million yuan; from January to July 2026, exports grew to 40.69 million yuan, an impressive 72.3% year-on-year growth.
Inside the company’s production workshop, advanced equipment such as the Lectra CAD Systems from France, the Gerber automated cutting system from the United States, and automated garment suspension systems operate on full workflow automation—from fabric cutting to final assembly. The company’s intelligent equipment standards are among the highest in the domestic industry. Breaking out of the traditional role of contract manufacturing, the company has collaborated with industry leaders such as Jinan Shengquan Group Share Holding Co., Ltd. and The Sixth Element (Changzhou) Materials Technology Co., Ltd. to develop innovative products like graphene shirts and functional outdoor jackets, successfully transitioning from traditional garments to high-value functional clothing.
“On the one hand, we stabilize our quality baseline through technological upgrades, and on the other, we secure the high-end market through customized services,” said Hao Bin, Vice Chairman of Shandong Aoshi Garments Co., Ltd. Moving forward, the company plans to implement its “High-End Customization + ‘Three-Quality’ Strategy” as part of a five-year development roadmap. It aims to expand the overseas influence of its self-owned brand, achieve simultaneous growth in both its foreign trade scale and profitability, and showcase the entrepreneurial spirit of Shandong’s apparel manufacturers in navigating global markets.
Cutting-Edge Technology Drives Global Market Expansion
Tai’an’s First NYSE-Listed Company Expands Its Global Export Portfolio
In the afternoon, the media delegation visited Tai’an Longtai Metal Products Co., Ltd., the city’s first NYSE-listed company in February 2025. The company has carved a global presence with its innovative technology and diverse client acquisition strategies, selling “Made in Feicheng” metal piping components to global markets.
Established within the Feicheng High-tech Industrial Development Zone as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by the Luda Technology Group Limited, Tai’an Longtai Metal Products Co., Ltd. operates with a registered capital of HK$138 million. It has received several accolades, including “National High-Tech Enterprise,” “Provincial Specialized and Innovative Enterprise,” and “Provincial Champion Manufacturing Enterprise.” Specializing in core products such as flanges and pipe fittings, it has secured numerous domestic and international certifications in special equipment manufacturing, ship classification societies, and the petroleum sector. Possessing a strong portfolio of independent patents in advanced alloy materials and precision machining, the company is among the earliest in China to master high-end stainless-steel flange heat-treatment and nickel alloy pipe-fitting production technology.
“Our main focus this year is expanding our international market. Brazilian clients have completed the first stage of online review, and we are actively pushing for new collaboration opportunities,” said Han Shumin, Deputy General Manager of Tai’an Longtai Metal Products Co., Ltd. Leveraging over three decades of industrial expertise through its parent company, the firm has successfully entered markets in Kuwait, Brazil, and South Korea by adopting diverse strategies, including business-to-business referrals and outreach through international trade fairs. The company’s 2026 export revenue is projected to reach 15 million yuan. Additionally, it has significantly increased its foreign capital investment in recent years, with $1.39 million reinvested in 2025 through retained earnings and $730,000 added in 2026 to expand high-end production capacity. Future plans include targeting emerging markets along the Belt and Road Initiative to further grow its global market share.
Rooted at the Frontline of Local Foreign Affairs, Building a Bridge of Opening-Up Through Dedicated Service
“Grassroots foreign affairs work is closely connected to enterprise development and the rights of the people. Being on the frontlines means delivering services that genuinely meet the needs of all stakeholders,” shared Zhuang Di, Deputy Chief of the Foreign Affairs Section, Foreign Affairs Office of Feicheng Municipal People’s Government, during an interview with the Cloud Talk Shandong media team.
Having worked in grassroots foreign affairs for years, Zhuang has consistently emphasized the fundamental principle of Party-led foreign affairs, embedding political discipline throughout her work. She has implemented end-to-end management for official overseas travel, conducted regular foreign affairs discipline and overseas safety training, and ensured comprehensive pre-departure education for all personnel traveling abroad, thereby safeguarding foreign affairs security. Taking the initiative to collaborate with departments like commerce and public security, she has dismantled bureaucratic silos to form a joint coordination mechanism for foreign-related work, fostering synergy in foreign affairs services.
To better support foreign trade enterprises and overseas laborers, Zhuang has spearheaded the “Foreign Affairs Services into Enterprises and Safe Overseas Employment” program. This initiative has reached thousands of employees and community members, offering guidance on foreign affairs policies, cross-border trade risks, and consular protection information. Furthermore, she has streamlined applications for APEC Business Travel Cards and foreign nationals’ invitations to China with online submissions and green channel processing, significantly reducing processing times and alleviating the burdens for enterprises. Previously, in handling a complex foreign-related labor dispute, she was fully involved in the work of a joint task force, coordinating translation resources to verify foreign-language evidence, staying available around the clock to listen to the concerns of the workers, and accompanying the task force to Beijing Daxing International Airport, where she spent eight consecutive hours on site calming the workers, registering their claims, and arranging return flights overnight. The successful repatriation and resettlement of all the workers effectively protected their lawful rights and interests and maintained overall social stability.
This promotional event showcased Tai’an’s diverse explorations in leveraging economic diplomacy for grassroots development. From creating transnational research platforms in universities to penetrating global markets with innovative products, and providing heartfelt services at the grassroots level, a clear pathway for open development encompassing production, academia, research, and global markets is emerging. It is injecting continuous vigor into Tai’an’s grassroots-level opening-up and high-quality growth.