Since its establishment five years ago, the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Qingdao FTZ) has significantly enhanced its international hub capabilities through coordinated land and sea strategies and internal-external linkages.

Photo of Qingdao Port. [Photo provided by Sun Jintao/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Its cumulative import and export volume have exceeded 800 billion yuan($113.04 million), with an average annual growth rate surpassing 20 percent. The Qingdao FTZ has optimized its full-chain regulatory services by introducing over 30 new customs clearance modes, increasing average clearance speed by more than 30 percent.

Additionally, 100 measures like a tax refund policy for the port of departure have benefitted 859 export enterprises with a total export value of 13.6 billion yuan. The zone established China's first maritime court trial area in a free trade zone, achieving top rankings for three consecutive years among the country's 10 largest container ports.

The zone has also accelerated the development of the Northeast Asia international shipping hub by launching the world's first intelligent aerial transportation system. It is the strongest competitor in Northeast Asia, with cargo throughput and overall evaluation ranking fourth globally.

Over the past five years, the zone has reshaped the Northeast Asia port landscape, creating a mutually beneficial framework between the East and West while establishing itself as a model for high-quality development.