Qingdao has made great progress in replacing old growth drivers with new ones over the past two years, said local authorities, adding that the coastal city is undergoing a systematic remodeling from its industrial structure, systems, and mechanisms of development to its business environment.

Official data showed that the city's new economy, which features new industries like biotechnology that are characterized by cutting-edge technologies, has witnessed rapid growth.

The share of value-added of the new economy in the city's GDP rose from 25.8 percent in 2017 to 30 percent in 2019.

The share of value-added of modern services in its GDP rose from 30.3 percent in 2017 to 31.5 percent in 2019, while the average annual growth rate of the marine industry exceeded 10 percent.

The city's number of high-tech enterprises increased from 2,039 in 2017 to 3,829 in 2019. Its PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) applications increased from 761 in 2017 to 1,381 in 2019.

The eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

In the first half of this year, investment in the city's "Four New Economies" (new technology, new business patterns, new development modes, and new industries) accounted for 49.5 percent of its total investment, despite the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the new opportunities brought by the COVID-19 epidemic, Qingdao has been promoting the new generation of industrial transformation. It has issued a three-year action plan to foster the industrial internet sector to help enterprises overcome difficulties and to upgrade its industries.

The city is also ramping up efforts to advance e-commerce, online services, new financial services, and other internet-based new business forms to inject new vitality into its economic development.

In first half of the year, the city's internet and related services grew 21.8 percent year-on-year. Its high-tech services grew by 7.3 percent, up 13.9 percent from the first quarter. Its imports and exports of cross-border e-commerce reached 1.18 billion yuan ($170.86 million), an increase of 3.2 times.