Taicang saw 32 projects signed at a merchant investment meeting in Shanghai, on Oct 13.

The 2016 Taicang (Shanghai) Merchant Investment Meeting is held in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, on Oct 13. [Photo/Taicang Daily]

The meeting is a crucial part of Taicang's efforts to further link its economy with Shanghai, as currently Taicang serves as one of its satellite cities.

Top officials from Taicang hosted the meeting and demonstrated Taicang's advantageous geography, booming economy, modern agriculture and The German Center in Taicang, while also reviewing past achievements from cooperation between Taicang and Shanghai.

Wang Jianguo, acting mayor of Taicang, explained that during the past five years, Taicang has received some 13 billion yuan ($1.94 billion) in investment from Shanghai companies. He also expressed his hopes that both cities will strive to provide better services.

Taicang agrees new projects with Shanghai companies. [Photo/Weibo: Taicangfabu]

A total of 32 projects were signed at the investment meeting in various fields, including technical innovation, staff recruitment, education, trade, tourism and healthcare, 3D printing and an agreement on a cross-border e-commerce platform.

Taicang also signed various Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreements with several Shanghai government departments and university institutions, including Tongji University and the Shanghai University of Engineering Science.

Professor Xue Ling from Peking University gives a lecture on Taicang's service industry. [Photo/Weibo: Taicangfabu]

Professor Xue Ling of the School of Government at Peking University gave a lecture on the modern service industry in Taicang during the meeting.