The port city of Qingdao, Shandong province has been ramping up efforts to build a high-standard market system with measures to promote an effective market environment and quality management, as well as improve its modern market system.

The city recently held a working conference to set the tone for this year's quality management work, underlining its focus on strengthening quality certification to help create a fair market environment, raise the quality of Qingdao-made products, and increase the international profile of local brands.

Qingdao hosts a working conference to set tone for the year's quality management work. [Photo/dzwww.com]

To improve its quality management system to suit the characteristics of different industries, provide talent pool, and explore a Qingdao quality management mode, the Qingdao administration for market regulation has joined hands with Qingdao University to establish the Qingdao Institute of Quality Science. 

Qingdao-based industrial leaders have also been exploring new ways of quality standard management. Local manufacturing giants such as Haier and Hisense, Qingdao Port, a branch of Shandong Port Group, beer brewing giant Tsingtao, and Qingjian Group, a Chinese construction and engineering firm, have set up the Qingdao Quality Development Promotion Association.

Over the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), the city has made great strides in strengthening quality certification as well as improving quality supervision and management quality, which have contribute greatly to local brand development and industrial upgrading, said local officials.

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province boasts a vibrant economy. [Photo/VCG]

Local departments at all levels have issued a number of policies and measures to promote high-quality development. The municipal financial funds used to subsidize brands and standards development have been ranked among the top in China. For three consecutive years, Qingdao has been ranked first in the provincial quality assessment of municipal governments.

The qualified rate of food, drugs and products have been of a high level in the city, said local authorities. In 2020, the quality competitiveness index of the city's manufacturing industry reached 90.30.

The Qingdao Forum on International Standardization, which is designed to generate opportunities for cooperation among international, regional and national standardization organizations and promote the development of standardization, has been held for two consecutive editions in the city.

Official data showed that Qingdao has led or participated in the establishment of 147 international standards, as well as more than 2,800 national and industry standards. The city is also home to eight national inspection and testing centers.