Zhanjiang aiming to be first port of call for businesses

Marine economy

As one of China's first 14 coastal opening-up cities, Zhanjiang aims to be a national marine economy demonstration zone, according to the mayor. It will highlight the port industry, coastal tourism, cash crop farming with local characteristics and the union of civil and military industries.

"We will focus on big investment projects and the development of industrial parks - from single projects to a full industrial chain - which will be ultimately developed into a modern industrial system with high-level performance," Jiang said.

German chemical giant BASF will invest a total of $10 billion to build a chemicals production site on Donghai Island in southeastern Zhanjiang, about 40 kilometers from the city center. This is one of the biggest foreign investments that Zhanjiang has ever received. It is also the single biggest investment project the company has ever made internationally, BASF said.

Last year, Zhanjiang was selected as one of the top 50 cities with the greatest investment potential in China by World Famous Brand Assembly.