Shandong's county-level economies are demonstrating robust growth, with 12 counties in the province ranking among China's top 100 county-level cities in terms of economic development, according to a report by the market research firm CCID Consulting.

Shandong province recently held a conference to discuss strategies and plans for promoting rural-urban integration and accelerating the high-quality development of its county-level economy. The meeting, held on Sept 30, outlined a comprehensive plan to strengthen county-level economic development.

Key areas of focus include: attracting investment, enhancing urbanization, improving infrastructure, and deepening reforms. The conference emphasized the importance of fostering the growth of unique industries and upgrading industries through cooperation between economically strong counties and those with relatively lower GDP rankings.

A significant outcome of the meeting was the release of new measures that support stronger counties in assisting weaker ones. These measures encourage economically advanced counties to leverage their industrial strengths to drive innovation and create cross-regional industrial clusters that weaker counties can make use of in developing their own unique industries.

The conference highlighted the importance of rural vitalization and positioned counties as a crucial starting point for achieving this goal. By increasing agricultural productivity, raising farmers' incomes, and boosting rural vitality, Shandong aims to comprehensively enhance the high-quality development of its county-level economies.