Mayors from across northeast China have gathered to promote logistics cooperation.

Leaders from Changchun and Jilin in Jilin Province, Harbin and Qiqihar in Heilongjiang Province, Shenyang, Dalian and Anshan in Liaoning Province met in Dalian yesterday to discuss the opportunities open to them.

Last year, the seven cities' combined gross domestic product accounted for 60.7 percent of their three provinces' total.

According to agreements reached at the summit, Dalian's port is to work more closely with resources and goods distribution centres in Changchun, Harbin and Shenyang.

Through the integration of port and railway, trade, transportation and operation costs can be lowered.

"Taking advantage of the situation, we are to improve the region's economic development through modern logistics cooperation," said Dalian Mayor Xia Deren.

The city will continue to offer port, logistics, financing, trade, tourism, and information services to the northeastern hinterlands, he said.

Shi Zhongxin, mayor of Harbin, said his city will promote trade with Russian businesses and build an industrial railway container depot.

The four main cities have developed their own characteristic industries.

Dalian specializes in the chemical industry and shipbuilding, Shenyang has a comprehensive equipment industry, Changchun manufactures transportation machinery and processes agricultural products, and Harbin manufactures machinery and medicine and processes food.

Cooperation between related and complementary industries will benefit the region's development, Shi said.

Sheng Guangzu, an official from the General Administration of Customs said the region should try to establish customs cooperation and coordination mechanisms based on the Pan-Pearl River and Yangtze River Delta models.

(China Daily June 8, 2005)