In the first half of this year, Shandong province has stayed committed to forging ahead and shouldering greater responsibilities. The provincial economy maintained steady growth with improved quality amid progress, pressing forward against headwinds, and successfully accomplished half-year economic targets ahead of schedule.
Shandong held a press conference on college entrance examinations on June 3. In 2026, the province registered 1.034 million Gaokao applicants, including 761,000 for the summer Gaokao; among them, 720,000 will sit the exam from June 7 to 10 across 150 exam districts, 410 test centers and 24,380 exam classrooms. Candidates can download admission tickets online starting June 1. Only valid ID cards or photo-bearing temporary ID documents are accepted for entry, while digital IDs are not valid for exam admission.
The 7th Qingdao Multinationals Summit, co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the People's Government of Shandong Province, will be held in Qingdao from June 15 to 17. Under the theme Joining Hands for Innovation and a Bright Future in the 15th Five-Year Plan Period, it demonstrates China's commitment to advancing high-standard opening-up and Shandong's resolve to deepen international cooperation.
Shandong Province saw its total imports and exports reach 1.17 trillion yuan in the first four months of 2026, up 3.6 year on year, according to customs statistics. Exports edged down 0.4% to 675.86 billion yuan, while imports grew 9.5% to 493.99 billion yuan.
On April 21, the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government held a press conference to elaborate on the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Shandong Province. Comprising 18 parts and 72 chapters, which are divided into three major sections, and 27 supporting key columns, the outline involves sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, energy and transportation, and maps out a series of major platforms, key projects and landmark projects.
On April 21, the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government held a special press conference in Jinan to introduce and interpret the key points of the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Shandong Province.
On April 15, the Information Office of Shandong Provincial People's Government held a press conference, at which officials from Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and other departments introduced the 2026 Shandong High-Quality Cultural and Tourism Industry Development Conference.
At a press conference held by the Information Office of Shandong Provincial Government on March 25, updates were introduced regarding the enhancement of the province’s quality infrastructure to support the development of its modern industrial system.
On March 11, the Information Office of the Shandong Provincial People's Government held a press conference under the theme "Working with Dedication, Shouldering Responsibilities and Fulfilling Duties", inviting leading officials from the Department of Natural Resources of Shandong Province to introduce the progress in advancing land greening initiatives and comprehensively building a Beautiful Shandong.
Since 2026, Weifang Port has maintained a growth trend in production and operations, with multiple indicators achieving breakthroughs. In January and February, Weifang Port achieved a cargo throughput of 7.7 million tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 17%, setting a record high for the same period. This has laid a good foundation for the port's development throughout the year.
