International services trade fair unfolds in Qingdao

Goldon Digital Creative, an enterprise based in Qingdao, Shandong province, displays its three-dimensional animation technology during the ongoing 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing. [Photo by Bo Keguo/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Qingdao, Shandong province, is committed to elevating its innovation efforts in the services trade and actively engaging in the global services trade network, a senior official said on Saturday.

Geng Tao, vice-mayor of Qingdao, highlighted the city's strategic approach during a promotional event held at the ongoing 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing, saying that the Qingdao municipal government has embarked on various initiatives, with a significant focus on strengthening the nexus between the manufacturing sector and services.

Qingdao boasts a robust manufacturing sector, each contributing over 100 billion yuan ($13.7 million) in total revenue. These sectors include intelligent home appliances, rail transit and new energy automobiles.

Geng said the government's encouraging leading industries to pivot toward service-oriented production.

A visitor interacts with a digital human developed by Juhaokan, an enterprise based in Qingdao, Shandong province, during the ongoing 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing. [Photo by Bo Keguo/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Distinguished enterprises such as Haier and Hisense have already set up global research and development centers in key markets across North America, Europe and Japan. These centers are dedicated to cutting-edge technological research, incorporation of novel technologies and facilitation of productive research and development activities.

"These collective endeavors have catapulted the enterprises into the upper echelons of the global industry," Geng said.

In August 2020, the central government designated Qingdao as one of the pilot cities for comprehensive innovation in services. Since then, it has successfully undertaken 133 pilot initiatives and made 28 groundbreaking achievements, according to the Qingdao municipal government.

Official data underscores the city's remarkable progress, with the value of services trade surging to $20.89 billion in 2022, effectively doubling since the city earned its pilot city designation.

The ongoing 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services has been a prominent stage for six Qingdao enterprises to exhibit their products, offering a glimpse into the city's promising future services.

"Qingdao is strategically harnessing the benefits of open platforms and digitalization to advance its position in the field of services trade," Geng said.