China's Ministry of Finance and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) recently declared Qingdao, a coastal city of east China's Shandong province, as a pilot city for the national innovative development of the marine economy.

Seven other coastal cities in the country were also designated as pilot cities including Tianjin, Nantong, Zhoushan, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Yantai and Zhanjiang.

The eight cities selected will obtain a special grant from the central government to develop its local marine economy.

The cities will be encouraged to upgrade their marine industries and improve the capability of independent innovation in marine industries.