Qingdao, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, has been steadily implementing the national strategy for ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin.

Qingdao is the bridgehead of Shandong's opening-up to the world. [Photo/Qingdao Daily]

Shandong is the only coastal province among the nine provinces in the Yellow River basin, and Qingdao is the bridgehead of Shandong's opening-up to the world. The city plays a vital role in the integrated development between land and sea and intercity cooperation.

The city recently released an action plan to advance the high-quality development of the Yellow River basin during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

According to the plan, Qingdao will carry out 38 measures to fulfill six tasks, including building a solid defense line against natural disasters, creating a model water-saving city in the Yellow River basin, promoting ecological and environmental protection and governance, as well as building an open gateway in the Yellow River basin.

Qingdao Port in Shandong province [Photo/Qingdao Daily]

Originating from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Yellow River winds more than 5,000 kilometers and spans the eastern and western parts of northern China. It coincides with the domestic section of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

The Yellow River basin is considered by insiders to have a strong geo-economic value, especially as China greatly values domestic economic development.