The governor of Liaoning has urged the central government to approve the Dalian Free Trade Zone as early as possible, in a bid to give the province an edge to diversify its trade.

Li Xi, the provincial governor, said: "The Dalian FTZ is designed not just as a copy of others, but one that is more regionally integrated, targeted, and differentiated in its own functions, backed by strong industrial foundation and strategic positioning vis-a-vis Japan, Russia, Mongolia, and the Korean Peninsula".

With the government keen on the "Revitalize Northeast China" campaign, setting up a free trade zone in Dalian, the international shipping center and regional finance center in Northeast Asia, can boost trade volume between regional markets and three of China's northernmost provinces and part of Inner Mongolia.