Qinzhou city was designated as the port base of China to build a China-ASEAN port cities network as part of new measures to facilitate regional cooperation.

Gathering at a forum to launch the network on Wednesday, mayors of port cities from the 11 member states vowed to work together on mutual navigation, port construction, port industries and port trade.

Qinzhou, in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, is at the center of the Beibu Gulf Economic Zone and on the southern coast of China.

According to Yang Xiuping, China's ambassador to ASEAN, a container shipment line between Qinzhou and Kuantan of Malaysia is being chartered.

Sihanouk Province of Cambodia is home to the country's largest ports and vowed to have a bigger part in regional shipping.

Ha Long of Vietnam is busy improving its infrastructure and environment, as the city is connected to China’s southern port cities.