Jinan, France strengthen ties through cooperation

A new documentary One Garden, Two Cities was released recently, spotlighting the friendship between Jinan, China and Rennes, France.

Since establishing their sister-city relationship in 2002, the two cities have cultivated active exchanges across multiple fields, including industry and technology.

Rennes, the capital of Brittany, is known for its robust industrial base, particularly in agricultural processing and automobile manufacturing, and hosts the PSA Group.

The two cities have engaged in practical and sustained cooperation. Jinan Qingqi Peugeot Motorcycle company, the only overseas joint venture of Peugeot Motocycles, was established in 2006 through a partnership between Jinan Qingqi and Peugeot Motocycles.

Over the years, the company has absorbed Peugeot Motocycles' advanced technology and design expertise, producing over 600,000 motorcycles. In 2020, it achieved a breakthrough in small-engine design, developing electric models that are now exported to Europe. According to its manager, the company is now capable of independent research, design, and manufacturing, serving both domestic and international markets.

Cooperation between the city and French companies also extends to the rail transit sector. Jinan has launched a rail transit artificial intelligence research center, creating a collaborative platform for local and French partners, including Alstom, Jinan Rail Transit Group and Shandong University.

Casco, a joint venture between China Railway Signal & Communication Company and Alstom, has contributed to the development of Jinan's rail transit system with advanced signaling technology, while also developing intelligent maintenance, operations, and fault-detection solutions. Currently, three rail transit lines are in operation in Jinan, with Chinese and French researchers applying AI to improve network efficiency and connectivity.