Guangzhou aims to be the heart of revived trade route

Guangzhou was an important harbor city on the ancient Maritime Silk Road for more than two thousand years and is now striving to be a leader and bridgehead in the nation's 21st century version of the route.

The capital of South China's Guangdong province aims to be the main traffic pivot, free trade harbor and hub for foreign communications in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in three to five years. The city hopes the revived route will be an engine to drive economic growth, according to a senior official.

The city plans to forge closer ties with regions along the route including ASEAN countries, those in the Middle East and Africa, said Guangzhou Mayor Chen Jianhua during a recent media briefing in Guangzhou.