Accelerating the construction of the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Demonstration Zone for Local Economic and Trade Cooperation and the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone will inject strong impetus into Qingdao's innovation and opening-up, as well as revive regional and global economies battered by the novel coronavirus pandemic, said Yang Jun, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of the CPPCC Qingdao Committee, in a recent interview. 

The urban landscape of Qingdao, Shandong province [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

"Qingdao, as the eastern starting point of the New Eurasian Land Bridge and a hub city of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, serves as a pivot connecting the East and West through its land-sea transport systems," Yang said.

Yang pointed out that Qingdao should give full play to its role as a "gateway" between Japan, South Korea and Northeast Asia in the east, and the Silk Road Economic Belt in the west, to boost two-way investment, cooperation and communication.

As one of the first Chinese coastal cities to be opened to the outside world, Qingdao has outstanding advantages in marine innovation, while Qingdao Port is ranked the seventh in the world in terms of cargo handling capacity, said Yang, adding that the city has strong competitiveness in international trade and logistics.

Yang said that the China-SCO demonstration zone and the Qingdao area of Shandong FTZ are crucial to serving both the nation and Qingdao's strategies to deepening opening-up and international cooperation.