Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong province, is in a unique position to develop the 5G technology-driven audiovisual industry, as it is an important player in China's media and electronic information sectors. The development of a 5G High-and-New-Tech Video Pilot Park in the city has further strengthened its position.

During this year's Qingdao Film and Television Expo, which ran from Saturday to Monday, a number of agreements on key projects to be carried out in the park were signed.

The park－jointly launched last year by the National Radio and Television Administration, the Shandong provincial government, and the Qingdao city government－is meant to reshape the country's audiovisual sector with 5G technology and promote the development of new businesses.

The new projects include the establishment of a key laboratory for 5G high-tech video application security and a brand research institute. Chinese technology behemoth Huawei Technologies, electronics component maker BOE Technology Group and other leading internet companies have decided to establish branches in the park. They are expected to offer brand-new audiovisual experiences to customers via 5G wireless technology.

Zhang Kai, director of radio, television, and media solutions at Huawei, said the company chose the park for its attractive policies, solid industrial foundation, regional strength, healthy business environment and potential as an industrial hub.

He added that the development trajectory of the company's video industry is highly consistent with that of the local government.

According to Zhang, Huawei plans to cooperate with its partners to offer digital services for the entire film and television industrial chain by making use of state-of-the-art technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, block chain, big data and the internet of things.

"We aim to help the park become a world-leading digital service center," Zhang added.

According to industry insiders, the projects recently introduced in the park will facilitate the creation of high-and-new-tech videos, inspire technological innovation, promote the agglomeration of emerging industries and foster a world-class digital industrial ecosystem that includes radio, film, television, video games and fashion.

The concept of "high-and-new-tech video" was first put forward last year in the Qingdao West Coast New Area, where the park is located.

The concept suggests that video products should make use of more advanced formats and be applied in more modern scenarios with the help of state-of-the-art technology such as virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, 4K/8K ultrahigh definition, high frame rates, wider color spectrums and 5G technology.

The park, which aims to cover the entire supply chain by recruiting video producers, technologists, equipment manufacturers, supervisors, and copyright service providers, is currently home to 58 high-tech video enterprises.

"With low latency, high reliability, and wide bandwidth, the 5G technology will lead to more tech-savvy radio and television programs and provide a more interactive and immersive experience for audiences," said Xu Jiaqi, director of the science and technology department of the NRTA.