The 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was successfully held in Qingdao last year. This also allows Shandong to take the chance of the Summit and amplifies the post-Summit effect. In September 2018, the construction of local demonstration zone for China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization's economic and trade cooperation was officially launched in Qingdao. 26 projects with a total investment of 43.7 billion yuan were started to push forward Qingdao to become an important port for the Asia-Pacific market. It also reflects China’s determination and perseverance to further reform and opening up.

The Qingdao Multinationals Summit will be held soon in mid-October. In an interview with reporters, Manuel Roche, SVP of Xcoal, said, “This summit and these kind of conferences reinforce the perception, the positive perception, that China’s commitment to openness will continue. I think that the opening-up policy which is the continuation of something that begin many years ago is the good thing for China. China should not close itself. China must continue to open itself.”

Talking about the attitude of multinational corporations towards China's opening up to the outside world, Manuel Roche said, “What we heard this morning is hopeful for those of us who are in the international space, in the private sectors of the world, knowing that China continues to be open for business.”