On August 12, the front page of People's Daily highlighted Qingdao, which has seized the initiative in development through proactive opening-up. The report commended the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qingdao Area ("SDPFTZ Qingdao Area" for short) for continuously expanding institutional opening-up and effectively nurturing a pilot ground for opening-up.
Details of the Report
Expanding the International Circle of Friends, Nurturing the Pilot Ground for Opening-up, and Building the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA)
Qingdao Seizes the Initiative in Development Through Proactive Opening-up
British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has increased its investment in Qingdao, Shandong, for three consecutive years, with a new production base expected to begin operations by the end of 2028. German company Almatis, which has been rooted in Qingdao for 27 years, has made its fourth round of additional investment to build a new calcined alumina plant... Multinational companies are demonstrating their confidence in China and Qingdao through concrete actions.
Back in May 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping, during his visit to Shandong, called upon the province to "build itself into a new hub of high-level opening-up" and "take the lead in further deepening reform across the board and promoting high-level opening-up."
To thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, Qingdao is committed to promoting opening-up on a larger scale, across more areas, and in greater depth, seizing the initiative in economic development through proactive opening-up, and exploring new prospects for reform and development.
Establishing logistics corridors and expanding the international circle of friends:
A China-Europe freight train departing from Qingdao reaches the heart of Europe in just 17 days, while trucks traveling via the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) system arrive in Moscow, Russia, in just 7 days... The high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative has brought more opportunities to Qingdao.
"This year, we have seized the opportunity of building the National China-Europe Express (Jinan-Qingdao) Assembly Center, innovatively implementing the 'warehousing, transportation, and trade' integrated operational model, and fostering a virtuous cycle where logistics promotes trade and trade drives industry development," said Man Kun, Assistant General Manager of Shandong High-Speed Qilu Eurasian Train Operation Co., Ltd.
Qingdao is opening wider to the outside world. Qingdao Port connects with over 700 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport offers passenger flights to 128 domestic and international cities. The China-Europe Railway Express operates 32 regular routes, linking 54 cities in 23 countries. In addition, 223 regular shipping routes and 42 maritime routes targeting SCO countries have been launched...
By continuously expanding international logistics corridors and actively serving and integrating into the new development paradigm, Qingdao has seen greater potential, stronger momentum, and more vitality for development.
Expanding institutional opening-up and effectively nurturing a pilot ground for opening-up:
"Nigeria's cassia seeds have been added to the 'white list'," said Song Chengyu, head of Shandong Yuguang International Trade Co., Ltd.
What is the "white list"? The SDPFTZ Qingdao Area has implemented a "white list" system reform for medicine and food homology (MFH) goods. Previously, goods like cassia seeds could only be declared for pharmaceutical use, involving complex procedures. Upon inclusion in the "white list", they can be declared based on actual usage. "Now we approach the international market with greater flexibility and confidence," Song said.
This reform has reduced institutional transaction costs for related enterprises by 50%. Currently, over 60 upstream and downstream enterprises in the MFH goods sector have settled in the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area, forming a multi-industry chain covering imports, food processing, and cross-border trade.
Focusing on business needs, the customs clearance reform for MFH goods has been further upgraded this year. For trading companies, restrictions such as "annual import trade volume of RMB 10 million" have been lifted, allowing businesses to associate with multiple food production and operation units, directly benefiting more small and medium-sized enterprises.
Other innovations include the "departure confirmation" model for imported goods subject to customs transit, a new model for offshore international trade services, and a "self-portrait" mechanism for market access and permission of operation... Since its inception, the SDPFTZ Qingdao Area has secured 332 innovative achievements, with 97 institutional innovations being promoted across Shandong Province and nationwide.
Upgrading major platforms and building the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area (SCODA):
In Jiaozhou, Qingdao, the SCO Industrial Internet Characteristic Pilot Zone features a refrigerator factory in the Haier COSMOPlat Industrial Internet Ecopark, where a single production line can assemble nearly 20 different models of refrigerators.
"Based on the smart home appliance industry, the park provides industrial support and industrial internet services to SCO countries and nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative," said Zhou Yunjie, Chairman and CEO of Haier Group, adding that the factory saw a significant increase in overall orders in the first seven months of this year.
The park's upgrading exemplifies the capacity expansion and quality improvement of the SCODA.
"We are continuously improving the policy system to promote information sharing, logistics connectivity, and project matchmaking, further strengthening the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains among SCO countries," said Zhang Xinzhu, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Secretary of the SCODA Party Working Committee. In April this year, Shandong introduced 23 support measures across four areas—comprehensive reforms, major platform construction, economic and industrial cooperation, and optimizing the development environment—to accelerate the capacity expansion and quality improvement of the SCODA.
"Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's earnest instructions, we will continue to advance opening-up at a higher level, foster new advantages for high-quality development, and inject fresh momentum into deepening regional cooperation," said Zeng Zanrong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee.
