Wang Qingxian, Party secretary of Qingdao, attended the Qingdao delegation's deliberation session on the work report of the Shandong Provincial Government on Jan 18 during the third session of the 13th Shandong Provincial People's Congress.

Wang said that as one of Shandong province's most important cities, Qingdao should promote its development strategy across the entire province and contribute to the development of the entire province and country.

Wang said that Qingdao has been mentioned many times in the government work report, showing that the provincial government attaches great importance to Qingdao's development.

The Qingdao delegation deliberates on the work report of the Shandong Provincial Government on Jan 18. [Photo/WeChat account: qingdaorenda]

Qingdao will continue to pursue high-quality development, promote regional development and build itself into a national central city with international competitiveness, added Wang.

The coastal city plans to take advantage of the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Demonstration Zone for Local Economic and Trade Cooperation in Qingdao and the Qingdao area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone and continue playing a lead role in opening up Shandong province to the outside world.

Qingdao will also build a platform for international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and develop partnerships in logistics, trade, investment, tourism, and culture.

An aerial photo shows the urban landscape of the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Wang Hua/dailyqd.com]

Qingdao is home to nearly 30 percent of the country's academicians involved in marine-related fields, as well as a large number of high-end marine-related research and development platforms. It is one of China's leading innovators in marine science and technology.

The city strives to become an important scientific and technological innovation center for the region north of the Yangtze River, said Wang.