The port city of Anqing, Anhui province, plans to establish China's largest auto parts production base in its Economic & Technological Development Zone.

There are now more than 10 large-scale auto parts manufacturers in the area, including Anqing TP Goetze Piston Ring Co Ltd, a global piston ring maker, and Anqing TP Goetze Liner Co Ltd, Asia's largest cylinder manufacturer, said Wang Yaowu, deputy-chief of the zone's administrative committee.

He added that the zone, which was set up in August 1992, has three pillar industries: ships and machinery equipment manufacturing, pharmaceutical and new materials. However, the zone, with a special industrial region and five industrial parks, also has all the requirements needed to attract companies in the auto parts sector, Wang said.

He added that Anqing, which has a population of 6.3 million and some 1.6 million industrial workers, can provide enough skilled employees to meet the demand of large companies in the area, which are thought to number about 1,600.

However, he added, some difficulties loom ahead.

Companies in the zone should foresee future trends for new-energy and intelligent cars and timely readjust their production patterns, Wang said.

"This will require auto parts manufacturers to re-adjust their product lines and introduce high-end products, to achieve diversified development," Wang added.

According to Zhang Junyi, the city's vice-mayor, Anqing port is one of the top 10 ports in the Yangtze River area and Anhui province's No 1 port, with the largest waterway transport capacity.

The city's priority is to attract investment from home and abroad, while also encouraging local companies to explore global markets.

Deng Zhiming, deputy general-manager of Anqing Hengchang Machinery Manufacturing Co Ltd, said that more than 70 percent of his firm's products are exported to Europe, North and South America, and Asia.