Qingdao's 12th Congress of Party Representatives took place on March 29, and Zhang Jiangting, gave a keynote speech on behalf of the 11th Qingdao municipal Party committee.

576 representatives of Qingdao's Chinese Communist Party (CPC) attended the Party congress held in Qingdao, March 29, 2017. [Photo/dailyqd.com]?

The congress took place during a crucial period for the city and at a defining moment for an increasingly prosperous society.

Representatives present were scheduled to deliberate over working reports from the 11th municipal Party committee and the 11th municipal disciplinary inspection commission, set the overall goals for the coming five years, elect new members for the 12th municipal Party committee and the 12th municipal disciplinary inspection commission, and elect Qingdao deputies to the 11th Party Congress of Shandong province during the three-and-a-half day event.

Zhang, Party secretary of Qingdao, gave a report at the conference. He firstly outlined the city's achievements in different industry sectors over the past five years, and emphasized the importance of the CPC Central Committee's advice and direction to the city's development.

Zhang expressed the committee's determination to pursue General Secretary Xi Jinping's important theories and proposals during his address.

Zhang then outlined the city's goals and tasks in the next five years. He pointed out that to build a livable, innovative and international Qingdao, the city should strengthen supply-side structural reform, accelerate scientific and technological innovation and promote industrial upgrading. He expressed his hope that Qingdao will become a major innovation center in the country's eastern coastal areas, a critical regional service center, a world-leading marine development center and an advanced manufacturing industry base with international competitiveness.