In the newly constructed park of Weihai, children and their parents enjoy the outdoors. [Photo/Dazhong News]

Shandong's Weihai has once again been recognized as one of China's happiest cities at the 2024 Happiest Cities Forum held in Shanghai on Dec 20. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Weihai has topped the list for prefecture-level cities.

A city's happiness is often linked to its economic vitality. Weihai has been integrating research resources to transform traditional industries, strengthen emerging industries, and plan future industries. This year, Weihai's high-end medical device industry cluster made it on China's top 100 private economic industry clusters for 2024.

In terms of foreign trade cooperation, Weihai has been continuously exploring new markets in Africa, ASEAN, and Latin America. Over 620 enterprises in Weihai have established trade relations with more than 50 countries and regions in Africa.

Happiness is not only reflected in high-quality development but also in heartwarming projects to improve people's livelihoods. This year, Weihai launched 20 livelihood projects and 15 projects to address shortcomings, including the renovation of old residential communities and the optimization of the urban road network, effectively addressing the "small but crucial" issues people face. The city has also implemented an employment-first strategy, and organized various activities to promote employment.

A happy city is one that provides friendly services and support to people of all ages. From kid-friendly spaces to elderly care services, the city has demonstrated its commitment to creating a community where everyone can feel happy and fulfilled.