Dalian Area’s Free Trade Zone Propels 52% Increase in Commercial Vehicle Exports

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

At the Dalian Port automobile terminal in Dalian Jinpu New Area, Liaoning province, vehicles are being loaded onto the China-Europe freight train heading to Central Asia. This marks another significant development in China’s 10th State-level new area.

Since the establishment of the Dalian Area within the China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone, Dalian Port has emerged as a premier hub for commercial vehicle transportation, leveraging the policy advantages of the free trade zone.

In 2023, Dayaowan Port within the zone exported 60,000 commercial vehicles, marking a 52 percent increase from the previous year. Container throughput reached 4.93 million TEUs, up 12 percent year-on-year, while crude oil throughput rose to 36.11 million metric tons, an 8.3 percent increase.

Dalian Port, operated by Liaoning Port Group, conducts trade with over 160 countries and more than 300 ports globally. It handles over 70 percent of Northeast China’s foreign trade cargo transportation and more than 98 percent of its foreign trade container throughput.

Situated on the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, Dalian overlooks the Bohai and Yellow Seas, boasting a coastline of 2,211 kilometers, the longest among Chinese cities.

This week, Dalian hosts the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum. By hosting this event, Dalian gains valuable insights into global economic trends, enhancing its integration into the global industry chain and bolstering its international influence.

Dalian officials emphasized their commitment to constructing a high-level gateway open to both domestic and global participants. The Summer Davos Forum serves as a pivotal window for deepening Dalian’s external openness. Through this forum, Dalian showcases its investment environment and key industries, creating a platform to attract investments and foster international collaborations. Global enterprises actively engage with Chinese markets and resources during this event.

In March, the Dalian Exchange Square, a 5A-grade international office building in Donggang business district, opened its doors. Developed by Orix China, a branch of Japan’s diversified financial services group Orix, the project leverages Orix’s global platform to access international resources.

Strategically located near the Dalian International Conference Center, where the Summer Davos Forum is hosted, this project underscores Dalian’s ongoing international engagement. Since the 2009 forum, Orix has established itself in Dalian, marking it as the first multinational financial group to set up its China headquarters in the city.

Dalian has implemented various local regulations supporting foreign investment and introduced policies to expand channels for foreign capital attraction, stabilize investment scales, and enhance investment quality. These efforts aim to position Dalian as a benchmark city for business-friendly environments, promoting consistency between domestic and foreign capital regulations.

Benefiting from its pilot free trade zone, Dalian has accumulated innovative experiences in promoting, protecting, and managing foreign investments. The city has attracted over 17,000 foreign-invested enterprises, including 124 Fortune 500 companies investing in 288 local projects.

Since hosting the Summer Davos Forum in 2007, Dalian has integrated a global perspective into its development strategies. The city’s “Six Developments” framework emphasizes modern industrial systems, regional technology and innovation leadership, high-level international openness, integrated land-sea development, attractive business environments, and coastal living, working, and travel destinations.

Dalian prioritizes the development of its “Two Pioneering Zones” focusing on optimizing industrial structures and advancing economic and social development. The city accelerates the transformation of traditional industries while promoting new, high-quality productive forces through technological innovation.

Dalian boasts 115 national-level and 635 city-level or higher scientific and technological innovation platforms, including nine national key laboratories. The city recently approved the Dalian Artificial Intelligence Computing Center as a national new generation AI public computing power innovation platform, enhancing its technological prowess.

In the western area of Dalian High-tech Industrial Zone, Yinggeshi Science City is emerging as a hub for high-level laboratories and research teams, fostering cutting-edge industries and strategic technological advancements.

Furthermore, Dalian aims to enhance its appeal as an international coastal tourist destination by enriching its cultural offerings and leveraging its coastal resources. Initiatives like the development of the fifth Gangdong Street have garnered significant online attention, supported by measures to enhance tourist experiences.

In 2023, Dalian saw a substantial increase in tourist arrivals and income, reflecting its growing popularity as a preferred destination for both leisure and business travelers.

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