Zhangjiagang in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, holds an investment promotion event in Shanghai on March 30. [Photo/Xinhua]

Zhangjiagang in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province, signed agreements for 55 new projects receiving a combined 56.3 billion yuan ($8.56 billion) in investment, according to an announcement at an investment promotion event held in Shanghai on March 30.

The projects involved new metallurgical materials, smart manufacturing, new chemical materials, high-end textiles, new energy resources, digital economy, biological medicine, and high-end medical equipment.

Local authorities said that these projects will promote the integrated development of Shanghai and Zhangjiagang and inject strong momentum into the latter's high-quality development during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period.

Pan Guoqiang, Party secretary of Zhangjiagang, addressed the event and said that the city has ramped up efforts to integrate into the Yangtze River Delta and has attracted a number of high-quality projects invested by Shanghai enterprises.

Zhangjiagang has actively integrated with the YRD and Shanghai in its pursuit of high-quality development. According to official data, the city has attracted a total of 150 projects valued at more than 120 billion yuan from the region over the past three years.

Pan added that this year, Zhangjiagang will focus on innovation-driven development and develop its eight key industrial chains, including the digital economy and new energy resources. Additionally, the city will take an active role in the construction of infrastructure facilities to promote resource sharing in the YRD region.