The State Council Information Office convened a special news conference on July 16 in Beijing with the theme of "New Era, New Growth Drivers, New Shandong" to introduce Shandong province's economic and social development since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Liu Jiayi, Party secretary of Shandong, gave a brief introduction to the province's development over seven decades. 

According to Liu, the people of Shandong, under the strong leadership of the CPC, have made pioneering efforts and forged ahead, achieving transformative changes in the province over the past 70 years.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Shandong has been implementing principles of major instructions made by the central government, acting on the new development philosophy. It has undertaken eight major development strategies, including the transformation of economic growth drivers, rural revitalization, military-civilian integration, coordinated regional development, major infrastructure construction, developing into a strong maritime province, as well as reaching new heights of its opening-up efforts.

Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Shandong has gradually developed a wide range of industries and achieved phenomenal economic growth.

Historic leaps have been made in terms of economic growth. Shandong's GDP rose to 7.65 trillion yuan ($1.13 trillion) in 2018 from 4.38 billion yuan in 1952, an increase of 344.4 times.

The wealth created in a single day now is 4.8 times the whole year of 1952. The per capita GDP rose to 76,000 yuan in 2018 from 91 yuan in 1952 with an average annual growth of 8.2 percent, an increase of 181 times.

Over the years, Shandong's economy had been mainly driven by traditional growth drivers. Shandong has recently seized the crucial opportunity of building China's first comprehensive pilot area of shifting economic growth drivers in the province, as approved by the central government to implement the major program of the transformation of its economic growth drivers.

It has transformed and upgraded five advantageous industries, including the high-end chemicals industry, modern high-efficiency agriculture, culture and creativity, quality tourism, as well as modern finance. Solid steps have been taken to develop such projects as the Yulongdao integrated oil refinery in Yantai, the high-end aluminum sector, and fine steel base in Rizhao.

It has focused on fostering five emerging industries, including the new generation of information technologies, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials, modern maritime economy, as well as medical and elderly healthcare.

Shandong has focused on integrating urban and rural areas. Permanent urban residents as a share of its total population rose to 61.18 percent in 2018 from 7.3 percent in 1953.

Shandong has been implementing strategies of invigorating the province through science, education, and innovation-driven development. Solid progress has been made in building Shandong into a province of innovators.

Liu said that the Shandong people will continue to transform their mindset, encourage bold explorations, as well as work with resolve to remove difficulties and challenges curbing economic and social development, unleashing the vitality of institutions and mechanisms.

Liu and Gong Zheng, governor of Shandong province, also answered questions from journalists. 

A news conference is held by the State Council Information Office on July 16 in Beijing to detail Shandong province's economic and social development since the founding of the People's Republic of China. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Jiayi, Party secretary of Shandong, delivers a speech at the news conference. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Liu Jiayi answers questions from journalists at the news conference. [Photo/dzwww.com]

Journalists from home and abroad ask questions concerning Shandong's development at the news conference. [Photo/dzwww.com]