Zhanjiang mayor outlines development plans for port area

Zhanjiang, a coastal city on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province, is transforming its Xuwen port into a modern integrated transportation hub linking Hainan Island, the country's largest free trade zone, with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The city is expanding and upgrading the docks, transportation infrastructure and facilities, with plans for remote terminal buildings in the Xuwen port area. The terminal buildings will be linked to Haikou Meilan International Airport and Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Hainan province, allowing passengers to check in at Xuwen port for flights in Hainan, said Zeng Jinze, mayor of Zhanjiang and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

"Relevant departments will try to develop helicopter, seaplane, ocean cruise and yacht transportation services to provide convenient travel for passengers and meet the growing travel demands," Zeng said.

Zeng said a modern three-dimensional transportation network will be fully formed by 2035, playing a pivotal role in accelerating Zhanjiang's economic growth and its engagement with the global community.

Xuwen, the southernmost port on the Chinese mainland, is connected to other parts of the country and the rest of the world through advanced expressway and railway networks as well as Zhanjiang International Airport. Xuwen port currently offers vehicle and train ferry services to Haikou, Hainan's capital.

Zhanjiang, a major production base in the western part of Guangdong, aims to enhance cooperation with Hainan to jointly build a Qiongzhou Strait economic belt. The collaboration will deepen cooperation in advanced manufacturing, modern logistics, marine science and technology, culture, tourism and transportation, Zeng said.

Zeng also pledged to construct an economically efficient "golden waterway", focusing on improving the shipping value of the Qiongzhou Strait to promote high-quality integrated development.

To ensure smooth operations on the northern shore of the strait, Zhanjiang will establish a special task force to coordinate transportation capacity and scheduling during holidays and inclement weather.

In addition to providing timely booking and congestion information and special weather updates, more comprehensive services will be provided, including quarters for drivers, vehicle service centers and parking areas, the mayor said.

The city will also vigorously develop its marine economy in the coming years, leveraging its expansive sea area of more than 20,000 square kilometers and a coastline spanning nearly 1,250 kilometers, accounting for 6.9 percent of the country's total coastline and 30.2 percent of Guangdong's.

Zeng emphasized the city's commitment to continuously building a market-oriented and internationalized first-class business environment and accelerating the construction of a "digital government".

Zhanjiang, which borders the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and faces Hainan Island, is now one of the major cities on the Chinese mainland advancing economic cooperation and trade ties between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.