Shandong is actively deepening the reform of management systems in development zones and developing a "1+N" policy system. This aims to stimulate the endogenous power and vitality of these zones, ultimately leading to their high-quality development. In the first half of the year, Shandong's development zones surpassed the provincial average in terms of foreign direct investment in actual use and growth rate in foreign trade, both accounting for over 70%. Steady progress has been made in expanding and optimizing the development zones along the Yellow River, with 21 out of the planned 22 provincial-level economic development zones already established in the nine cities along the Yellow River.

To enforce the improvement strategies for the pilot free trade zones, Shandong has issued the Deepening Reform and Innovation Plan for the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone and the Three-Year Action Plan for Replication and Promotion of Institutional Innovations in the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Since the beginning of this year, two institutional innovations of China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone have been included in the seventh batch of pilot reform experiences to be replicated nationwide by the State Council, ranking among the top in all pilot free trade zones.

Significant progress has been made in the construction of the "four centers" in the SCODA (the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area), leading to 15 events, 45 contracted projects, and 1 billion yuan of procurement orders. Additionally, plans have been made for the visit by a delegation from Russia, including three high-level meetings and three cooperation exchanges. Precise connections have been established with over 500 enterprises in Shandong, and 35 intended cooperation agreements have been reached.