He Zhongwei (right), mayor of Zhoushan, and Qiu Dongyao (left), mayor of Ningbo, sign a framework agreement on cooperation between the two cities. [Photo/zhoushan.cn]

The municipal governments of Zhoushan and Ningbo jointly held a promotion conference to discuss the integration of the two cities in Ningbo on Aug 16.

Fourteen specific cooperation agreements were signed by corresponding departments of the two municipal governments. Eight major projects were signed related to railway construction, container ship building, and warehouse logistics, among others things.

Lian Junbin, chairman of a financial service company in Ningbo, signed a project worth 1.28 billion yuan ($181.53 million) with Zhoushan's Dinghai district government.

Lian said that Zhoushan is rich in shoreline and wharf resources, and the company's investment will concentrate on the development of warehouses and logistics in the coastal city.

Zhoushan and Ningbo are sister cities located in East China's Zhejiang province, and have been dedicated to their integrated development in recent years.

Yu Donglai, Party chief of Zhoushan, and Zheng Shanjie, Party chief of Ningbo, attended the conference and delivered speeches.

According to Yu, Zhoushan will take the initiative in integrating into Ningbo's metropolitan circle and promote the implementation of cooperative projects in the two cities.

Zheng said that Ningbo will cooperate sincerely with Zhoushan in various areas, including infrastructure, industrial development, opening up and environmental protection, in order to bring about win-win development for the two cities.