Zhou Naixiang, governor of Shandong, delivers government work report during the first session of the 14th Shandong Province People's Congress in Jinan, the provincial capital, on Jan 13. [Photo/Dazhong Daily]

East China's Shandong province has made remarkable social and economic development and ongoing improvement of people's living standards in the past year, according to the provincial government work report delivered during the first session of the 14th Shandong Provincial People's Congress on Jan 13.

Last year, the province's overall economic and social development showed stable momentum. It is projected that the province's GDP grew by around 4 percent in 2022, and the added value of industries above designated size, fixed asset investment, and foreign trade value grew by 5 percent, 6.1 percent, and 13 percent, respectively.

Last year, Shandong rolled out a slew of preferential policies for deducting and deferring taxes and fees to shore up the industrial economy and support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The province cut about 290 billion yuan ($43.15 billion) in taxes and fees in 2022 amid its efforts to bolster economic growth and strengthen market vitality.

Efforts were also made to fully implement the invigorating Shandong through science and education strategy, the workforce development strategy, and the innovation-driven development strategy.

In 2022, the number of State-level talents reached 1,830 in Shandong. The Laoshan Laboratory was approved for construction, the National Technological Innovation Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Saline-alkali Land and the National Virtual Reality Innovation Center were approved for establishment, and three more provincial laboratories and five provincial-level innovation and entrepreneurship communities were established in the province.

Last year, the province worked to promote clean, low-carbon, and highly efficient energy use and push forward with the clean and low-carbon transition in industry, construction, transportation, and other sectors.

Efforts were also made to promote the coordinated development between rural and urban areas, advance rural vitalization, improve people's well-being and rural living environment, and build a new socialist countryside that is beautiful, prosperous and harmonious.