The Zhanjiang representative office of the China-ASEAN Business Council Chinese Secretariat was established during the 2012 China-ASEAN Economic and Trade Cooperation Zhanjiang Activities, which officially began on June 18.

A project by the Thai CP Group was designated a demonstration zone for China-ASEAN modern agricultural cooperation.

The Port of Zhanjiang was identified as a base for China-ASEAN shipping and logistical cooperation, and the Fenyong Economic Zone of Zhanjiang was named a China-ASEAN Economic Development Zone.

Covering an area of 46 square kilometers, the Fenyong Economic Zone was originally an overseas Chinese farm and became an economic zone in March this year.

It was named as a China-ASEAN Economic Development Zone in the memorandum signed in March between the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the Guangdong provincial government.

According to the plan, an outlay and industrial system will primarily take shape in the zone in 2017, and its annual industrial output will reach 50 billion yuan ($7.86 billion) in 2020.

The zone is designed to be home to advanced oceanic, energy, materials, electronics and pharmaceutical industries as well as industries related to steel and petrochemicals, trade, logistics, and services.

The zone has forged a cooperative relationship with four universities in Guangdong and six provincial or ministerial research institutes. It also serves as a base for training and employment for five vocational schools in the city.

It enjoys an advantageous location as well as a favorable policy and ecological environment. Preferential policies have been drafted for both a provincial high-tech zone and an area for Chinese professionals who have returned from overseas, said Chen Anming, a member of the standing committee of the city's Party committee.

The Chia Tai (Zhanjiang) Modern Agriculture Investment Co, a joint venture co-invested in 2010 by Thai CP Group and the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Zhanjiang, aims to produce 100 million broiler chickens and 1 million pigs annually. It is also engaged in meat processing and shrimp farming.

With a total investment of 12 billion yuan, the project is expected to generate an annual output of 15 billion yuan, create more than 100,000 jobs and contribute more than 550 million yuan in taxes every year after it is fully operational.

The demonstration zone for China-ASEAN modern agricultural cooperation, located in a chicken processing and raising area of the project, is set to help promote the project and facilitate the construction of it, said Ji Xiongtian, general manager of the company.

liwenfang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/30/2012 page6)