Marine economy focus for Shandong Peninsula-

When President Hu Jintao made an inspection in Shandong in April last year, he encouraged Shandong to develop the marine economy, in a bid to create a "blue" Shandong Peninsula Economic Zone.

Shandong subsequently took actions to develop its marine economy. After one year Shandong has been chosen by the State Council as a pilot zone for the scientific development of the nation's marine economy.

In response, Jiang Yikang, Shandong's Party secretary, said: "Shandong is uniquely positioned and has abundant marine resources to develop a 'blue' economy and will definitely seize this opportunity to enhance its marine capabilities."

Facing the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese islands across the sea, and situated at the key junction of the Bohai Rim and the Northeast Asia Economic Circle, the Shandong Peninsula offers convenient access to the sea along the Yellow River.

Shandong has a coastline of more than 3,000 km which is dotted with some 200 harbors. These harbors have links with over 150 countries and regions across the world, moving 700 million tons of cargo every year.

The 'blue' Shandong Peninsula Economic Zone covers all of the 160,000 sq km of sea areas. The production value from the marine industry stands at 534.6 billion yuan, accounting for 18 percent of the nationwide total in 2008.

Jiang Daming, Shandong's governor said, "the 'blue' Shandong Peninsula Economic Zone encompasses the most prosperous region of Shandong. The zone will become more competitive in the following years as priority will be given to the zone's development."

Shandong provincial government has initialized 322 projects to drive the development of the economic zone. These projects, stretching across seven fields involving ports, airports, railways, highways, energy, hydraulic projects and electronic technology, are expected to be finished within five years.

The local government plans to prioritize eight modern marine industries, including the marine-based organism industry, equipment manufacturing, resources and mineral exploration, fishing, transportation, tourism, engineering and environmental protection.

Various districts will be home for these industries. These districts include Longkou marine equipment manufacturing district, Binzhou Marine Chemicals District, Dongjiakou Marine High-tech Industrial District, the Dingzi Bay New City, the Weifang New City and the Dongying Cluster of Petroleum Industries.

Around 10,000 people who majored in marine scientific research live in Shandong, accounting for half of the total number in China. This provides the province with plentiful personnel resources to develop into a world-class marine science and technology center.

"The zone will drive the overall development of Shandong. It will make Shandong a high-end marine manufacturing industrial center, a high-tech marine research and development center and the internal shipping center for northeast Asia," Song Junji, deputy director of the construction office of the zone, said.