Qingdao, a leading economic city of East China's Shandong province, aims to become an international trade center in the near future. This will take advantage of its booming trade industry and favorable geographical position, according to sources with the municipal commerce department.

The city's imports and exports continued to grow in 2011 with a total value amounting to $71.26 billion. This is an increase of 27.2 percent year-on-year, according to a government work conference held on Feb 6.

"As an important port in Northeast Asia, Qingdao's enterprises have close relationships with those in Japan and South Korea due to transport conveniences. Qingdao can play a bigger role in the region and make use of its superior location by becoming an international trade center," said Yao Jian, vice mayor of Qingdao.

Domestic transportation services have been improved in Qingdao and the worlds longest cross sea bridge, the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, opened last July, increasing the port handling capacity for the foreign trade of the city.

Yao added that Qingdao's goals of becoming an international trade center will attract more business around the globe and promote service functions such as logistics, storage and exhibition. These will benefit the transformation and upgrading of the city's trade industry.

Several official action plans involving more than 80 works concerning trading transformation, foreign investment and marine economy have been set up in support of the city's goal as an international trade center.

The municipal commerce department will organize 50 overseas exhibitions and ten domestic exhibitions to help enterprises expand the international market in 2012.

It is estimated that company export order will reach $3.8 billion, drawing the exportation growth by 2 percent.

By 2015, Qingdao plans to build a leading business cluster that is supported by ten featured business districts with a total area of 10 million square meters.

The ten featured business districts will include finance, international business, outsourcing, culture creativity, conference and technology.

By Xie Chuanjiao and Hu Qing (chinadaily.com.cn)

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Rakhee M