Industries related to its neighboring ocean continue to play a crucial role in Qingdao, a coastal city of Shandong province, where fisheries, other marine products and shipbuilding are pivotal to the city's economy.

Administrators recently unveiled a "Qingdao Blue Economic Zone Development Plan" that will see 500 billion yuan in investment for 200 key projects in five economic zones along Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay over the next five years.

According to the plan, by 2015 the city will become China's first region of a "scientific marine economy", with a concentration of oceanic industries as well as a demonstration area for protection of the marine environment.

"Qingdao will rely on its unique strengths and resources in scientific research and industrial advantages to promote the development of the Shandong Peninsula," said Qingdao Mayor Xia Geng.

The city's marine research, teaching institutions and number of marine professionals now account for about one-third of the national total .

Since the 10th five-year plan (2005-10), 55 percent of marine researches in the nation's "863 Plan" and 91 percent of the "973 Program" - both the highest-level scientific initiatives - have been undertaken in Qingdao.

Half of the National Oceanic and Innovation Awards went to Qingdao organizations or professionals in recent years.

With 730 km of coastline dotted with 69 islands and 49 bays, the city is rich in marine life, oil and gas, and ocean energy. Its coastal waters total 13,800 sq km.

In 2009, the city's marine industries generated 150 billion yuan in revenues and added an industrial value of 58 billion yuan, 12 percent of the city's GDP.

As a regional shipping center, Qingdao has 10 ports handling 100 million tons of cargo and trades with 450 ports in 150 countries.

The recent blueprint calls for the city to become a rising regional development center for new marine industries and education, an international shipping center in Northeast Asia, and an international coastal tourism and sports center.

The marine biomedical industry now has more than 100 related businesses with an average growth rate of 30 percent.

More than 10 kinds of marine species and a number of new drugs and health care products have been produced.

Research into the preparation and development of marine oligosaccharides - carbohydrates thought to have health benefits - led by academician Hua Shi of Chinese Ocean University in Qingdao won a first prize in 2009 for national technical invention.

Qingdao is also one of three major shipbuilding centers in China and has become the nation's demonstration base for desalination and other use of seawater.

Qingdao Laoshan Marine Industrial Park now under construction will have 16 projects launched by the National Marine Science Center, requiring total investment surpassing 2 billion yuan.

(China Daily 06/30/2010 page24)