Ren Zhengang, director of the construction office at the Qingdao Blue Economic Zone, said a number of zones will be developed to expedite the city's marine economy.

Ren told China Daily the areas will focus on port logistics, modern fisheries, coastal industries, seashore tourism, marine biology and seawater utilization.

The zones are located at Dongjiakou Port, Jiaozhou Bay and Aoshan, Ren said.

"We will also focus on constructing four bases for emerging marine industries, modern fisheries, marine manufacturing and marine services," he said.

"We will mainly develop modern services including port logistics, coastal tourism, sports and cultural creativity," said Ren.

A world-class marine research and development center, a comprehensive equipment manufacturing base and national new material industry base are also expected to begin work, according to Ren.

The city will also speed up introduction and cultivation of high-end talent and improve the vocational education to establish a center of international marine science and technology education.

The city also plans to promote construction of parks and projects to improve the influence of blue economic zone. A regional pilot zone between China, Japan and South Korea is under discussion. A Qingdao Sino-German ecological park will also be developed.

"We will put more effort in marine environmental protection to further promote sustainable and healthy development of the economic zone," Ren said.

Local authorities plan to further enhance protection in Jiaozhou Bay, expand protected areas and integrate coastal regulations.

The government of Qingdao is also highlighting cooperation with neighboring coastal cities in industrial planning, introduction and arrangements for new projects, communication with institutes and marine environmental protection.

(China Daily 03/07/2011 page24)