Inspection tour
On May 6, a meeting of the standing committee of the Zibo municipal Party committee decided that the industrial sector, particularly manufacturing, is still key to Zibo's high-quality development, and that the city must always prioritize development of the industrial sector.
During an inspection tour of Linzi on May 9, Ma Xiaolei, Party secretary of Zibo, urged local authorities to seize the opportunities emerging from the city's reputation and influence, which have been enhanced recently by the barbecue trend. They should also continue to attract people and resources to woo high-end talent and lure innovation-oriented and manufacturing companies to the city, Ma said.
Ding Changfa, an associate professor in the Department of Economics at Xiamen University's School of Economics, was quoted by Time Weekly as saying, "In the long run, old industrial cities such as Zibo cannot rely solely on the barbecue, catering and cultural tourism sectors, because they don't have distinctive scenic spots. Such cities will continue to rely on innovation in the future."
Industrial projects have been developed in Zibo for more than 100 years since iron ore and coal were discovered in the city's Boshan district in the early 20th century.
The city was once an industrial hub for the chemical industry, with coal, iron, bauxite, silk, ceramics, glass, electricity and machinery the pillars of its economy.
About a decade ago, Zibo faced a series of problems, including resource depletion and environmental pollution, which forced the authorities to transform the local industrial structure.
Since 2018, the city has shut down heavy industrial projects, while introducing sustainable and high-tech ventures. During this time, the local authorities have closed steel production businesses, and the production capacity for producing ceramics, cement and coal has been significantly reduced. Instead, high-tech and innovation enterprises have been introduced.
To date, Zibo has attracted 65 national-level enterprises specializing in innovation and developing competitive products. A total of 20 enterprises in the city are recognized as single-product champions in manufacturing.
Qu said a digital economy, smart manufacturing and medical industries have been developed in Zibo in recent years, which will provide more jobs for young people.
The Zibo government said that in the past three years it has strived to create a working and living environment targeted especially at young people.
"Young people represent a major force driving this economic transformation," Qu said, adding that the city's performance during the craze for barbecue food will earn it a reputation among such an audience.
"When people come to Zibo for barbecue, they are impressed by the sincere attitude and considerate services provided by the local government and residents," Qu said.
He added that the attractive business environment and coordination among local authorities set an example for other industrial cities.
