The northeastern port city Dalian, in Liaoning province, will build up a high-level gateway to facilitate smooth domestic connections and international linkages, and push for higher-level opening-up, Chen Shaowang, a deputy to the National People's Congress and mayor of Dalian, said.

"Openness, which has given life and prosperity to Dalian, is in the genes of the city," said Chen, who is also deputy Party chief of Dalian.

Located at the center of the Northeast Asia Economic Rim, an important point for the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, Dalian was one of the first 14 coastal cities in China to open up and it has taken a lead in terms of openness in Northeast China.

"So far, Dalian has introduced more than 17,000 foreign-invested enterprises," Chen said. "It boasts more than 30,000 foreign trade enterprises and exports to over 200 countries and regions."

He said Dalian will further integrate with the building of the Belt and Road, and strengthen economic and trade cooperation with the countries involved in the initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

"We will promote opening-up to the north and expand cooperation with Russia in energy, minerals, grain, fisheries, timber and automobiles," he said.

"And we will continue to promote opening-up to the east, deepen cooperation with Japan and South Korea in high-end equipment manufacturing, electronic information, energy conservation, environmental protection, marine economy and other fields."

Photo taken on March 1, 2024, shows a container vessel docking at the Dalian container terminal in Jinpu New Area of Dalian, Liaoning province. [Photo by Yang Jingxiu/For China Daily]

With Dalian Jinpu New Area, China's 10th State-level new area, the Dalian Area of the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone, the RCEP(Dalian) International Business District, Dalian High-Tech Industrial Zone and many other high-level platforms for openness, Dalian is one of the sub-provincial cities with the largest number of and the most comprehensive functional areas for openness.

Dalian Port is connected to more than 300 ports in over 160 countries and regions, with container shipping routes reaching all major ports in RCEP member countries.

The city is accelerating the building of an international shipping, logistics and regional finance hub in Northeast Asia.

"Dalian has superior geographical conditions, profound opening deposits and broad development prospects," Chen said.

Just before this year's two sessions, Chen led an economic and trade delegation from Dalian to France, Italy and Japan, where they visited top companies and related leading enterprises, conducted six extensive investment promotion seminars, and reached 40 agreements and memorandums of understanding on deepening strategic cooperation.

"Business people we met believe that the prospects for Chinese modernization are broad and the revitalization of Northeast China is facing major opportunities, and expressed their willingness to continue to increase investment in Liaoning province and Dalian," Chen said.