The port city of Zhanjiang has promised to further expand its economic and cultural links with nations and regions along the maritime route of the ancient Silk Road to support its economic development in the coming years.

With the 2015 China Marine Economy Expo to take place in Zhanjiang from Nov 26 to 29, the city has an ideal platform to enhance international cooperation.

Zhanjiang, whose economic growth is closely tied to its ocean economy and marine industry, is looking to capitalize on the 2015 CMEE to expand its market in Southeast Asia in manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, ocean economy, infrastructure, science and technology, education and culture, according to the city's authorities.

More than 1,000 enterprises from home and abroad will have exhibits at the country's largest marine industry show.

Local authorities have urged the city's businesses to grasp the golden opportunity to further expand its links with the nations and regions along the maritime Silk Road.

"Zhanjiang has great potential to expand cooperation with Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa in the future," said Liu Xiaohua, Party chief of Zhanjiang.

Located in the southernmost tip of China's mainland, Zhanjiang was one of the important starting points of the maritime route of the ancient Silk Road. It offers the shortest sea route from China to Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa, Liu said.

Liu called for building Zhanjiang into a model city for China's oceanic economy, a hub in trade with Southeast Asia, a core city in the western part of Guangdong, and a competitive port city on the Chinese mainland in the coming years.

Zhanjiang, which ranks eighth in GDP in Guangdong, has opened a number of international sea routes and flights to connect with Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa.

Vital connection

Liu said the city has been an important foreign trade port in China since ancient times and has a long history of opening up to the world.

Zhanjiang faces the vast South China Sea and has harbors and related facilities to expand its foreign trade and economic cooperation, Liu said.

It is also a city where the oceanic industries have played an increasingly important role in local economic development.

According to official statistics, Zhanjiang has an ocean area of more than 20,000 square kilometers, a coastline of 2,043 km and more than 140 islands.

Its oceanic industries generated an output value of 127.58 billion yuan ($20.88 billion) last year. That figure is expected to surpass 180 billion yuan this year.

Zhanjiang customs' data show that the city's trade with nations and regions along the maritime route of the ancient Silk Road reached an average annual growth of 11.2 percent, from 2.87 billion yuan in 2001 to about 12 billion yuan last year.

Trade with nations along the maritime routes of the ancient Silk Road represent more than 30 percent of the city's total imports and exports in recent years.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn