During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), Qingdao's Jimo district made extraordinary development progress.

The district's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.3 percent, rising over 40 billion yuan ($1.48 billion) to reach 174.25 billion yuan. Per capita GDP exceeded $17,000. Industrial output above designated size grew 3.9 percent annually, with the number of industrial enterprises expanding by 35.7 percent to 688.

Annual foreign trade stayed above 50 billion yuan, while utilized foreign capital exceeded $2 billion, total retail sales of consumer goods exceeded 60 billion yuan, and per capita disposable income rose 5.6 percent annually.

Jimo prioritized industrial growth and the development of new quality productive forces. The automotive industry, now a provincial specialty cluster, brought together over 400 vehicle and parts companies, with cumulative vehicle production surpassing 3.6 million units. New energy vehicles accounted for 23 percent of annual output.

The district made significant strides in the marine economy, achieving a marine GDP of 68 billion yuan, up 52.3 percent from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20). It now hosts 115 science and innovation platforms and over 400 high-level talents at the provincial level and above, including 12 full-time academicians.

Urban-rural integration accelerated, with the urbanization rate exceeding 62 percent. Jimo was recognized as a national ecological civilization demonstration zone, with six major pollutants meeting Grade II national standards for the first time and air quality reaching record highs.

With a robust automotive sector and growing marine economy, Jimo continues to strengthen its industrial foundation. [Photo/WeChat account: jmfabu]