China Opens New Maritime Development Zone

A new zone in the west coast of Jiaozhou Bay covering about 2,096 square km of land and 5,000 square km of water, has been designated in east China's Shandong Province to steer the country's marine development, according to Xinhua.

The Qingdao West Coast New Area (QWCNA) of Huangdao District in coastal Qingdao aims to pilot innovation in marine technology and serve as a strategic base for deep sea and off-shore exploration.

Citing Zhao Yingmin, head of the bureau of science and technology in Huangdao, Xinhua reports that the advanced technology owned by the area will be a trump card. The zone will work with science  institutions to create unmanned submersibles to meet pressing demand for deep-sea and off-shore exploration.

For instance, the new area has become the research base for China's most sophisticated research vessel, Kexue, or "Science."

Meanwhile, state-owned enterprise the China Ship Building Industry Corporation has delivered the first home-grown electronic propulsion system for ships along Qingdao's coast, and is building a facility to research, produce and experiment with advanced high-power engines.

Source: Xinhua