Last year, the hi-tech production value in Shandong amounted to195.2 billion yuan (US$23.6 billion), about 27 percent higher than that of the previous year. The export volume of hi-tech products also rose by 45.6 percent to over US$1 billion.

According to officials with the provincial government, Shandong will speed up the construction of export processing bases in Qingdao and Weihai cities, encourage the launching of more labor-intensive or processing hi-tech projects, as well as intensify the building of software parks in Jinan and Qingdao.

In addition, the province will make efforts to develop agents and establish sales networks in foreign countries for its hi-tech products.

Meanwhile, ensuring that hi-tech products pass international quality certification is also considered a key step in opening to the global market, said the officials.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2003)