Dalian, with a coastline extending 2,211 kilometers, has developed a comprehensive and competitive maritime system, local officials said.

They said the maritime economy has become a key impetus in the city's economic growth. GDP generated by maritime industries exceeded 113.5 billion yuan ($15.78 billion) in 2021, a year-on-year rise of 12.6 percent. The growth rate is 4.4 percentage points higher than that of Dalian's total GDP.

Foreign businesspeople have also benefited from the booming development of maritime industries. Stephane Gonnetand from France, for instance, founded yacht maker ODC Marine in Dalian.

He came to the city in 2004 and found that "people in Dalian are open-minded, inclusive and friendly to foreigners like me".

"I had lived here only for a few months and felt like it was home," Gonnetand said, adding that it was a feeling he had not had in other places, so he decided to settle.

Dalian has established an industry integrating shipbuilding, repair, and research and development. It has built three shipbuilding centers and five ancillary industrial parks.