Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, set its development goals in 2022 at the first session of the 18th Yantai Municipal People's Congress, which kicked off in the city on Feb 24.

Yantai achieved a good start in social and economic development in 2021, marking a good start for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. The city is poised for a higher-level of development by making new targets this year, according to Zheng Deyan, mayor of Yantai.

In several areas, the city has made a strong start to the 14th Five-Year Plan. According to Zheng, the economic structure and quality have continued to be optimized and enhanced.

The city's GDP is expected to rise by roughly 6.5 percent, while general government revenue should rise by about 5.5 percent. According to Zheng, the city's international commerce volume is predicted to increase by 12 percent, and foreign direct investment is expected to increase by 15 percent.

This year, the city will also emphasize its energy conservation, emission reduction, and carbon reduction goals.

Zheng added that efforts will be made to effectively expand domestic demand and stimulate the vitality of the economy. Yantai will continue to deepen reform and expand high-level opening-up in an effort to actively serve and integrate into the country's new development paradigm, and the city will stick to innovation-driven growth to make breakthroughs in constructing a modern industrial chain.

According to Zheng, the city will increase efforts to enhance the maritime economy and seek integrated urban-rural development through overall planning and cooperation.

Yantai, a coastal city in East China's Shandong province, sets its development goals in 2022 at the first session of the 18th Yantai Municipal People's Congress. [Photo/WeChat account: yantaifabu]

The coastal city of Yantai in East China's Shandong province. The city generated 871.12 billion yuan in GDP in 2021. [Photo/WeChat account: yantaifabu]