On February 27, Mr. Gao Shanwu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Qingdao West Coast New Area and Director of the Administrative Committee of China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area (the Area), met with Mr. Harald Kreidner, Head of Research and Development at ContiTech business area OESL, Scott Bykowski, Head of Testing and Laboratory, and their delegation at the Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark. The two sides engaged in discussions about strengthening enterprise collaboration with the Area and developing the Asia-Pacific Technology R&D Center. Zhang Yunqing, Deputy Director of Ecopark's management committee, attended the meeting.

Mr. Gao welcomed Mr. Kreidner and his delegation on their return visit and reflected on the two sides' effective collaboration in the Technology R&D Center project. He stated that since the project's signing in September 2024, the work on it has progressed smoothly, and construction is anticipated to start by the end of 2025. The Area is committed to providing coordination and support services for the project, aiming for the R&D center to be completed and operated soon.

When discussing the company's upcoming development strategy, Gao elaborated on the comprehensive policy support provided by the Area, including supporting measures like intellectual property protection and innovation in standardization. He expressed his hope that the project owners seize this strategic development opportunity to further elevate the company's standards, intensify investments, and capitalize on the diverse policy advantages available in the Area.

Furthermore, he proposed three initiatives: first, it is essential to upgrade the Qingdao factory's production capacity by leveraging the advantages of the local industrial chain in Qingdao and strengthening its integration with the local market. Second, it is necessary to establish a leading hub for material analysis technology in the Asia-Pacific region, centered around the R&D center development. The final suggestion is to strategically use the existing land resources of the factory for planning new investments.

Gao also expressed his hope to further cement the cooperative foundation through this exchange, driving substantial breakthroughs in areas like technology R&D and industrial advancement between the two sides. He also welcomed the establishment of an Asia-Pacific regional headquarters by Continental AG in the Area.

The two sides have agreed to establish a regular liaison mechanism to collaboratively optimize the project's implementation path, injecting new vitality into its development.

The visit laid a solid foundation for deeper cooperation between the two sides in the future. Looking ahead, the Area will continue to adhere to the principle of openness and cooperation, offering comprehensive support and services to resident enterprises, thereby jointly fostering the prosperity and development of the regional economy.