The 369-meter-tall Haitian Center, which dominates the skyline of the coastal hub of Qingdao, Shandong province, started operation on June 20.

A forum on the high-quality development of the urban economy was held in the building on the same day.

The forum on high-quality development of the urban economy is held on June 20 at the Qingdao Haitian Center. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Invested by Qingdao Conson Development (Group) Co, the Haitian Center, which has a construction area of 490,000 square meters, is made up of three towers. Tower 2 is currently the tallest building in Qingdao with its height of 369 meters.

The center is designed to be a super high-rise urban complex integrating headquarters offices, international hotels, urban tourism, culture and art, commercial center, and a high-end residential area.

Haitian Center, the new urban landmark of Qingdao [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

During the forum, Long Yongtu, former vice-minister of foreign trade and former secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia, delivered a keynote speech on promoting new and high-quality urban development.

"It is necessary to further optimize the hard and soft urban environment and accelerate the building of a talent gathering center so as to better attract global high-quality enterprises to Qingdao amid the country’s dual-circulation development pattern," said Long.

He added that Qingdao should expand the advantages of its manufacturing sector and gather resources from high-end service industries at a faster pace to better serve the development of the real economy and further improve the quality and integrity of the industrial chain.

Qingdao Mayor Zhao Haozhi said in his speech that Qingdao has been ramping up efforts to strengthen the real economy, scientific and technological innovation, digital transformation, its opening up to the outside world, and improving the quality of the city.

He expressed hope that more entrepreneurs and investors will come to invest in Qingdao and create a better future together.

Partners sign cooperative agreements with Qingdao Haitian Center. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]