Zhuanghe port will become a new gateway to the sea in Northeast China for heavy equipment, household products and cold chain logistics, said Zhao Yongbo, mayor of the city.

Four berths have been put into trial operation while nine others are under construction.

When the expansion is complete, the port will become a State-level import port for resources including timber, aquatic products, renewable resources and minerals and its cargo throughput is expected to reach 10 million metric tons.

"The trial operation will greatly support the launch of the China-Japan-South Korea Circular Economy Demonstration Base. Roll-on, roll-off passenger ships operating between Zhuanghe and South Korea will also be launched in the future, which will attract more investors from Japan and South Korea," Zhao said.

In June, the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance approved plans to build the China-Japan-South Korea Circular Economy Demonstration Base in Dalian Recycling Industry Economic Zone in Zhuanghe.

About 39 enterprises have started operations in the base and many of their imports and products are transported through the port.

"After the expansion is completed, Zhuanghe port will become an important national hub for the import of wood, aquatic products and minerals as well as the export of heavy equipment, furniture and low temperature products," Zhao said.

Zhuanghe is one of the few county-level cities to have a State first-class open port. In 2006, when the port first opened, it had only three berths, the capacity of the largest was just 10,000 tons.

As the city achieved significant economic growth in recent years there has been an urgent need to expand the port and its related infrastructure.

For example, processed aquatic products exported by Zhuanghe account for more than half of the total in Liaoning province, but the products need to be transported to the port before they are exported.

A cold-chain logistics park is due to be built as part of the expansion project and the park said it will help related enterprises cut transportation costs by at least 100 million yuan ($15.7 million).

"The expansion will not only help with Zhuanghe's industrial upgrading but also attract more investors," Zhao said.

For example, as China has banned commercial clear cutting, the country needs to import a large amount of wood products. Zhuanghe port plans to help foster a 50-billion-yuan wood industry by handling wood imports and exports of furniture manufactured in areas including the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang.

As part of Dalian port, Zhuanghe port will also contribute to the implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives and the growth of the northeastern Asian economic circle, Zhao said.

Contact the writers at dongjidong@chinadaily.com.cn