China Foreign Trade Center and Zhanjiang city government signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on Sept 15 to upgrade the China Marine Economy Expo, which is held in the city annually.

With the cooperation, the Zhanjiang city government hopes to turn the expo into a more professional, international and effective event, said Zheng Renhao, Party secretary of the city.

Sponsored by the State Oceanic Administration and Guangdong provincial government, the expo is the only State-level comprehensive marine-themed expo.

It has become an important promotional platform for implementing the country's Belt and Road Initiative and developing maritime economy, said Li Jinqi, director of China Foreign Trade Center.

China Foreign Trade Center is the organizer of China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in the country. It has been staged 121 times.

Canton Fair is also devoted to deepening economic cooperation with countries related to the Belt and Road Initiative, Li said.

Through consolidating resources and complementing advantages, the two fairs are expected to achieve win-win results.

The fourth session of China Marine Economy Expo will be held in the port city of Zhanjiang between Dec 14 and 17.