Qingdao boasts stunning natural scenery. [Photo/WeChat account: qd12301]

By putting the people at the center and making their aspirations for a better life the goal, Qingdao is improving residents' well-being and making solid progress in the construction of a modern international metropolis under socialism with Chinese characteristics.

At the recent Happy Cities of China Forum 2023 in Chengdu, Sichuan province, Qingdao was hailed for having one of the country's highest happiness ratings for four consecutive years.

In the first three quarters, the city achieved a GDP of about 1.18 trillion yuan ($164.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 6 percent. Its public budget revenue reached 101.88 billion yuan, up 6.1 percent year-on-year, and from January to October, the added value of industries above designated scale increased by 5.9 percent year-on-year while sales of wholesale and retail industries in the city surged by 13.8 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively. During the same period, Qingdao's fixed asset investment grew by 4.6 percent year-on-year, and its total import and export value reached 733.53 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7 percent.