Qingdao has secured the 16th position in the Global Ocean City Competitiveness Index Report (2025), placing it in the second tier of leading global maritime cities. The report evaluated 60 coastal cities across five dimensions: economic vitality, technological innovation, maritime services, international influence, and urban governance. 

The city displays strong performance in scientific innovation and port activity, ranking first among the sampled cities in the number of marine-related research papers published in 2024. With 2,202 papers sourced through Web of Science, Qingdao accounted for nearly one-tenth of the total publications from all 60 cities. The report also stated that Qingdao hosts one-third of China's ministerial-level marine research platforms and a similar proportion of marine academicians.

Despite these strengths, the report identified areas for improvement, including improving the transformation of marine scientific achievements, upgrading maritime services, and strengthening international hub connectivity to close the gap with first-tier cities like London and Singapore.

In recent years, Qingdao has made progress in upgrading port and shipping services. The Asian headquarters of Greek Phoenix Register of Shipping settled in Qingdao this February, marking the city's first classified society Asian headquarters. In growing the cruise industry, Qingdao hosted 21 cruise ship calls in 2024 and has entered the high-value cruise maintenance sector.

With over 230 container routes connecting more than 700 ports worldwide, Qingdao continues to maintain its position as an international shipping hub. The city's latest national positioning as a modern marine city and international comprehensive transport hub further affirms its growing significance in the global maritime landscape.

Qingdao makes progress in upgrading port and shipping services. [Photo/Guanhai News]