The fourth session of the 14th Shandong Provincial People's Congress opened on Jan 27 in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province. 

A total of 862 deputies attended the event. Zhou Naixiang, governor of Shandong, delivered the province's government work report. According to the report, Shandong posted strong economic growth in 2025, with its gross domestic product reaching 10.3 trillion yuan ($1.48 trillion), making it the third province in China to surpass the 10-trillion-yuan mark, after Guangdong and Jiangsu.

The year 2025 marked the culmination of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). During that five-year period, the province made significant progress in both economic and social development. Its GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.9 percent, and per capita GDP rose from 73,400 yuan to 102,600 yuan during the period, according to the report.

The report also outlined the province's development targets for 2026. Shandong aims to achieve over 5 percent year-on-year GDP growth, with general public budget revenue expected to rise 2 percent. 

The province will focus on 10 key areas, including expanding domestic demand, fostering new quality productive forces, deepening reform, advancing high-level opening-up, promoting rural vitalization, and enhancing coordinated regional development.

The opening ceremony for the fourth session of the 14th Shandong Provincial People's Congress is held on Jan 27 in Jinan, the Shandong provincial capital. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]