Linyi‑Shanghai ties strengthened at Yimeng spirit and industry‑talent exchange event

The themed exchange event Red Thread Connecting Mountains and Seas, Linyi‑Shanghai Marching Toward New Progress was held in Shanghai from August 16 to 18. Entrepreneurs, experts, scholars and chamber representatives from the Yangtze River Delta gathered by Huangpu River to trace the origin of the Yimeng Spirit and draw a blueprint for coordinated regional development.

Once a mountain‑locked old revolutionary base with poor transport access, Linyi now embraces Shanghai, a leading engine of opening‑up. Rooted in shared red heritage, the cross‑city bond stretches from Xingye Road, the cradle of the CPC, to the Yimeng mountainous area, brimming with new‑era vitality.

The founding spirit of the CPC and the Yimeng Spirit share the same ideological origin. In the early days of the CPC revolution, Wang Jinmei attended the First National Congress of the CPC in Shanghai, while early Yimeng Communists including Liu Xiaopu, Liu Yimeng and Li Qingyi received education at Shanghai University. During the Liberation War, the East China Field Army was founded in Linyi. Two years later, troops liberated Shanghai and large numbers of cadres from the Yimeng base moved south to support local construction.

Since the reform and opening‑up drive, Linyi people have set up the first mobile Party committee for migrant workers in Shanghai. Agricultural produce from Lanling County supplies Shanghai's “vegetable basket” market. More than 500,000 Linyi‑born residents work and run businesses in Shanghai.

Under the 15th Five‑Year Plan, Shandong province has set the goal for Linyi to grow into a provincial sub‑center and march toward a trillion‑yuan GDP city. Linyi takes active steps to integrate into the Yangtze River Delta. In January this year, on the 10th anniversary of Shanghai Linyi Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders issued the Inherit Yimeng Spirit, Boost Hometown Development initiative and signed multiple cooperative projects. Targeted financial products were rolled out for Linyi's 13 landmark industrial chains.

As an international hub for economy, finance, trade, shipping and sci‑tech innovation, Shanghai is a key destination for Linyi's investment outreach. Linyi gives full play to its geographic advantage as Shandong’s southern gateway and a bridgehead linking the Yangtze River Delta. In December 2025, the Shanghai Enterprises Visit Yimeng event brought 16 major State‑owned enterprises from Shanghai and their 27 subsidiaries to Linyi.

Linyi holds annual Yimeng Week investment promotion activities inside the Yangtze River Delta. At present, investment from Yangtze River Delta enterprises accounts for over one‑quarter of total inbound investment in Linyi. High‑quality projects from Baowu Steel and Shanghai Electric have settled locally.

Every year, 3 million tons of fruits and vegetables from Lanling flow to the Yangtze River Delta. Two out of every three peaches sold on Shanghai markets are produced in Linyi. Altogether 305 municipal‑level agricultural supply bases targeting Yangtze River Delta cities have been built in Linyi. The city also hosts Shandong’s first Shanghai‑standard vegetable production base, realizing direct supply following Shanghai quality requirements.

Moving beyond raw‑material exports, Linyi upgrades its agricultural sector toward brand‑building and standard output. Jingjiang International Group has integrated Linyi's cultural‑tourism resources into special product lines for Yangtze River Delta tourists.

The tangible benefits of bilateral cooperation reach ordinary residents. In June 2026, Linyi Hospital of Shanghai Children's Medical Center, a national regional medical center, officially opened. It adopts a three‑tier expert assignment mechanism combining permanent postings, regular visits and on‑demand remote consultation, bringing Shanghai‑grade medical services to local patients. A one‑year‑old child with congenital coronary artery abnormality received successful surgery and recovered in Linyi without travelling far away.

Convenient transport links keep shortening the spatial distance. Daily long‑distance coaches run between Lanling and Shanghai with affordable fares and door‑to‑door pick‑up service. New high‑speed‑train routes connect Linyi North Railway Station directly with Shanghai. Air routes between Linyi Airport and Shanghai operate at near‑bus frequency. Construction of the second Beijing‑Shanghai high‑speed railway proceeds steadily.

Exchange training programs for young entrepreneurs from Shanghai and Shandong are held at Yimeng Cadre College. Management experience from Shanghai State‑owned enterprises offers practical references for Linyi enterprises pursuing transformation.

Spanning mountains and seas yet bonded as one big family, Linyi and Shanghai carry forward shared red legacy and deepen pragmatic cooperation in industry, talent, agriculture, medical care and transport. The event marks a new chapter for win‑win development between the old revolutionary base and the international metropolis.

Editor：韩蒙蒙