The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province recently launched an action plan to boost the city's marine economy this year. The aim is to boost gross marine product growth by about 10 percent and sea-related fixed asset investment by about 12 percent.

According to local authorities, more efforts will be made to accelerate the optimization of marine industries, the construction of a modern marine industrial system, the construction of a marine science city, the integration into the new development pattern and the improvement of comprehensive marine governance capabilities.

The coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province boasts a vibrant marine economy. [Photo/WeChat account: qdfbwx]

The city will speed up the construction of major projects such as the North China (Qingdao) International Aquatic Products Trading Center and Cold Chain Logistics Base, the Guoxin Marine Economy Pilot Zone for the Integrated Development of Tertiary Industry, and accelerate the building of a batch of marine industry agglomeration zones each worth more than 100 billion yuan ($15.33 billion).

It will launch more supportive measures to boost and extend the industrial chains of marine equipment manufacturing, marine biomedicine, marine electronic information and other key sea-related sectors.

The city will also support the construction of 16 State-level demonstration zones for marine ranching, and explore a new development model for marine ranching complex based on the integration of service industries.

Relying on national research and development platforms based in the city, Qingdao will set up more enterprise-capital-research cooperation platforms to boost achievement transformation and attract more talents.

The city will seize the opportunities arising from the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Demonstration Zone for Local Economic and Trade Cooperation to explore new room for international cooperation in marine sector.

It will also promote the implement of the "gulf chief" system to clean up and protect bay area resources and the city's environment.