At a conference on trade and investment sponsored by the Jingyue Hi-tech industrial development zone, in the city of Changchun, Jilin province, on Jan 4.

There were agreements on 22 projects worth 34. 8 billion yuan ($533 million) in education, culture, and technological innovation.

This annual event has been considered a sign of the investment climate in Changchun, since 2004, and has seen a total of 200 projects worth 180 billion yuan.

In commenting on the conference's significance, Guan Shusen, head of the development zone, said, "it provides a big space for prospective companies and investors and plays an important role in economy growth. And [we] will put emphasis on the development of ecological environment and people's livelihood."