Shandong powers ahead economically

It has also fostered emerging industries, among them the new generation of information technology, high-end equipment, new energy and new materials, and medical and elderly care sectors.

Shandong has made a breakthrough in replacing old drivers of growth with new, Li Ganjie, secretary of the Communist Party of China Shandong Provincial Committee, said as he delivered a report to the 12th CPC Shandong Provincial Congress in May.

There were more than 20,400 high-tech enterprises in Shandong last year, 7.9 times more than in 2012. Additionally, the production value of these businesses accounted for 46.8 percent of the province's total manufacturing production value, a 17-percentage increase from 2012, according to the local government.

The province helped create 13 provincial-level competitive industrial clusters by last year, including clusters dedicated to new energy materials, information technology and marine equipment, by creating complete industrial chains and fostering a comprehensive, rules-based business environment that covers companies, institutes, financial bodies and other service agencies, rather than simply supporting a handful of leading companies.