Action plan aims at international transformation

The Qingdao government recently launched new strategies in the hopes of transforming the city into an international metropolis.

In February, the city government issued the International City Strategy Index and the Action Plan for Internationalization (2016-17), in a bid to speed up the city's internationalization process.

Li Qun, Party chief of Qingdao, said the city is leveraging China's Belt and Road Initiative to boost internationalization by optimizing urban management and planning, attracting international professionals and training city officials in international methods of administration.

Qingdao Mayor Zhang Xinqi said innovation will play a significant role in the city's internationalization.

"The city will ramp up efforts to push forward the internationalization of talent development and the service sectors, and enhance cooperation with countries and regions along the Belt and Road," Zhang said.

The city wants to become an international trade hub in East Asia by 2021 and an international coastal metropolis by 2049.

According to the strategy, planning in urban development, optimizing modern service functions, boosting competence for modern industries and realizing cultural prosperity will be the four most important tasks in the city's endeavor for internationalization.

The city's newly designed international city strategy index includes major indicators such as international competitiveness, influence, growth potential and attractiveness. It also includes other indicators such as gross domestic product, per capita GDP, per capita personal income, international airline routes and number of multinational companies' head offices. It has selected Singapore, San Francisco, Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Osaka as benchmark cities for the city's development.

The action plan specifies more than 100 major tasks relating to city planning and construction standards, modern service system, improving industrial strength, expanding networks and building relations with foreign cities, as well as social governance, public services, culture, talent recruitment and development.

"Along the way to internationalization, Qingdao will continue to grow with world-class taste and vision, international standards and local advantages," said Li Qun.

Qingdao's airport has direct flights to more than 16 international cities. Qingdao Port is the world's seventh-largest and has trade connections with more than 700 ports in over 180 countries and regions.

Qingdao also aims to deepen economic ties with foreign countries. The city will make efforts to help its dominant industries in global markets, according to the action plan.

The city is home to regional head offices or R&D centers for many international companies such as Caterpillar, ReSource Pro and Alcatel-Lucent. Domestic enterprises such as Haier, Hisense, and Tsingtao have become multinational companies with operations worldwide.

In recent years, Qingdao has held a number of influential international events including the International Conference on ICT 2015, the annual China Wealth Forum, the International Leisure Games in 2015, the International Horticulture Exhibition in 2014 as well as the Olympic Sailing Games in 2008.

huqing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/04/2016 page6)