A major aquaculture base in Guangdong province, Zhanjiang is banking on e-commerce to play an increasingly important role in its economy in the years to come.

The e-commerce industry can help the city's businesses expand their presence at home and abroad, the city's authorities said.

They said Zhanjiang has abundant agricultural and aquatic resources that should be able to open multiple channels to boost sales with the help of e-commerce.

According to the Zhanjiang Bureau of Commerce, one in seven prawns sold around the world is from Zhanjiang.

Xu Yonggui, director of the Changrong Farming Cooperative in Zhanjiang, said developing e-commerce will expand sales for the city's aquatic and agricultural products.

"E-commerce will be able to play a role to help farmers expand their sales," said Xu.

Xu said his cooperative will be able to sell more aquatic products, vegetables and other products online.

Last November, the Zhanjiang city government signed a cooperative agreement with Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com to help expand sales of the city's businesses domestically and abroad.

According to the agreement, a special Zhanjiang page on JD.com was created for the sale of its local products.

"The agreement will be a major boost for Zhanjiang's rural and marine economies," said Ou Dahai, managing director of Zhanjiang Blue Sea and Sky E-Commerce Co Ltd, which runs the Zhanjiang page on JD.com.

Ou said e-commerce is helping many companies to expand their sales.

"Joining hands with JD.com will help Zhanjiang companies sell more products and help the city's reputation," Ou said.

"Many local companies have shown their great interest in expanding their online sales via the e-commerce platform."

Ou vowed that only qualified products can be sold online through the special Zhanjiang page on JD.com.

(China Daily 05/30/2016 page6)