Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo/VCG]

Qingdao city recently began implementing its "Qingdao Excellent Products" project to promote high-quality economic and social development.

The goal is to create a nationally recognized public brand system and enhance the overall strength of Qingdao's brands and companies.

In recent years, the competition to create national public brands has become increasingly intense. Various economically strong provinces and cities are working on this to promote high-quality regional economic development.

In terms of brand development, Qingdao's status as the "City of Brands" falls short when compared to Beijing and Shanghai. For example, in the "China's Top 500 Most Valuable Brands" list of 2023 released by World Brand Lab, Qingdao only had 25 brands selected, compared to 87 from Beijing and 40 from Shanghai.

The pace of brand building has slowed down in Qingdao, with enterprises such as Haier, Hisense and Tsingtao Beer still among the main players. And moves to develop a brand economy cluster, led by strategic emerging industries, have been running out of steam.

The "Qingdao Excellent Products" project will comprehensively improve Qingdao-made products, services and the city's corporate image.

The city will establish a sound system to support the development of brands and provide all-round services such as setting standards, inspection and testing, certification and recognition, intellectual property, quality management, financing, and law enforcement.