With China's marine economy surpassing 10 trillion yuan ($1.41 trillion) in gross ocean product for the first time in 2024, Qingdao has emerged as a leader in developing a modern marine industry system.

The city is leveraging its unique strengths to advance the vision of a leading marine city, driving innovation and setting benchmarks in deep-sea aquaculture, marine biomedicine, and high-end equipment manufacturing.

Breakthroughs in intelligent aquaculture highlight this progress. The Guoxin 1, the world's first 100,000-metric-ton intelligent farming vessel, has enabled the industrial cultivation of large yellow croaker, while the submersible Shenlan 1 supports commercial farming of Atlantic salmon in deep waters.

Meanwhile, Qingdao's marine bio-enterprises have unlocked remarkable value from seaweed, transforming it into high-end products used in industries from food to pharmaceuticals, with prices rising from 50,000 yuan to over one million yuan per ton.

In marine equipment manufacturing, the Haixiwan area has grown into a major industrial cluster, hosting over 50 shipbuilding and offshore engineering companies. It has delivered a series of advanced installations for deep-sea operations.

In marine biopharmaceuticals, Qingdao is leading with innovative drugs such as "BG136" — the first marine polysaccharide-based anti-tumor drug internationally to enter clinical trials — now in phase II studies. Three marine innovative drugs are currently in trials, with dozens more in the pipeline.

Supporting this growth is Qingdao's modern marine industrial system, which aims to transform and upgrade four traditional sectors — fisheries, port and shipping, marine tourism, and marine chemicals — while accelerating four emerging sectors: marine equipment, bioproducts, seawater utilization, and new energy. The city is also investing in two future fields: deep-sea development and marine electronics.

As China strengthens its ocean governance and pursues high-quality growth in its marine economy, Qingdao stands at the forefront, shaping new quality productive forces and contributing to the nation's rise as a maritime power.

Qingdao leverages its distinctive strengths to advance the vision of a leading marine city. [Photo/Guanhai News]