In an effort to build a pioneering modern ocean city, a goal launched in 2022, Qingdao strives to become five centers, among which is included the international marine science and technology innovation center, and sets its mind on pooling citywide resources to promote high-quality marine development.

Building the international marine science and technology innovation center. With the implementation of 15 policies on marine industry, Qingdao is now home to 2,800-plus ocean-related enterprises above designated scale and as many as 502 new and high-tech enterprises in marine industry. Furthermore, Qingdao boasts 23 ocean-related academicians and a maritime workforce of 380,000.

Building the global modern marine industry center. With an addition of three national demonstration areas for marine ranching this year, Qingdao now boasts a total of 21 such areas, ranking second in China. Located in Qingdao, China’s first submersible deep-sea fish farm named “Deep Blue Number-1” has cumulatively harvested more than 1,000 tons of salmon. The “Deep Blue Number-2” is expected to be put into use within the year.

Building the international shipping trade finance innovation center. From January to September this year, Qingdao Port’s cargo throughput and container throughout amounted to 504 million tonnes and 22.34 million TEUs, up 5.7% and 11.6% year-on-year, respectively, signaling solid progress in the port’s main business.

Building the global demonstration center for marine ecology. More than 1,100 varieties of marine lives have been identified in the newly-concluded survey of marine biodiversity across Laoshan Bay and Dingzi Bay. Qingdao is accelerating the construction of key ecological restoration projects including Lingshan Island, and has kicked off the comprehensive coordinated land-sea treatment project across Jiaozhou Bay.

Building the global communication center for marine affairs. Since the beginning of this year, multiple new platforms for international marine cooperation have been established in Qingdao. China’s only Ocean Decade International Cooperation Center has been unveiled, and Asia’s sole Ocean Decade Collaborative Center on Ocean-Climate Nexus and Coordination has been put into operation in Qingdao.

(Li Xunxiang)