In August 2023, the Guangdong Fenyong ASEAN Industrial Park initiated a collaboration with the China-Vietnam (Shenzhen-Hai Phong) Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, pioneering a new cooperative model for parks within and beyond Guangdong. In February 2024, they jointly proposed establishment of the Guangdong-ASEAN Industrial Park International Cooperation Alliance in Zhanjiang, marking a significant milestone in economic and trade cooperation.

Last month, Thailand's Borthong Industrial Estate joined the alliance, expanding its member parks to 10.

Yu urged Zhanjiang to enhance the business environment and cultivate new strengths for the port economic zone, including improving the transportation and storage capacities of Wushi Port and optimizing the zone's transportation networks. He added that administrative reforms should also be deepened to facilitate cross-border trade and enhance public services, while promoting the digital and intelligent development of the zone.

A signing ceremony is held at the Guangdong-ASEAN Industrial Park International Cooperation Alliance and Zhanjiang Port Economic Zone Joint Investment Promotion Conference held in Zhanjiang city on Feb 7. CHINA DAILY

Mou Zhiping, executive vice-mayor of Zhanjiang, said the city's port economic zone, facing the Hainan Free Trade Port across the sea, serves as a gateway for Guangdong to engage with ASEAN. He added that Wushi Port, which is one of the closest seaports from the Chinese mainland to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, boasts unique geographical advantages. With construction conditions for a 100,000-dead-weight tonnage wharf and a 200,000-dead-weight tonnage shipping channel, Wushi has the potential to emerge as the primary port linking ASEAN countries.

Mou said plans are underway to enhance Zhanjiang's transportation network and establish an agricultural product distribution and deep-processing center, making it a major export processing industrial base and a crucial energy supply hub for Hainan province. The city is also proactively welcoming industrial relocation from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and fostering key industries like energy and marine engineering equipment.

Since 2023, the Zhanjiang port economic zone has attracted 100 industrial projects with a total investment of about 42 billion yuan ($5.8 billion), including several high-tech, high value-added export processing projects. In 2024 alone, it secured 65 manufacturing projects, with a total investment of over 24 billion yuan.

Tang Zhongping, president of Guangdong Bihui Industrial, said: "When considering business development, factors like commuting logistics and land costs are critical. The Zhanjiang port economic zone's proximity to the ASEAN region ensures low logistics costs and smooth operations, offering an ideal environment for establishing a high-end eyewear industrial park locally."