Zhanjiang aiming to be first port of call for businesses

Wider opening-up

According to the mayor, who is also a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress, the city intends to set up a free trade port.

"We are making every effort to get more experimental policies from the State and provincial governments first applied in Zhanjiang, so that the city can play a more significant role in opening-up in the coastal area of South China," Jiang said.

The local government will first set up a comprehensive bonded zone by the end of this year, then promote the ideas of putting Zhanjiang Port and Donghai Island on the map as a part of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Jiang said. It also intends to explore new cooperation opportunities between Zhanjiang Port and the ports in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Jiang said.

The government will apply to set up a free trade port for commodity exchanges, he added.

While enhancing the union with the Greater Bay Area, the city will develop complementary industries with neighboring Hainan, including port processing and warehouses.

"The logistic cooperation is workable between Zhanjiang and Hainan, so we can join hands to build a commodity exchange center in Zhanjiang and an international shipping exchange in Hainan," Jiang said.

Zhanjiang can also build a warehouse to look after the international trade of Hainan, he added.