Pingtan has grown to be a magnet for cross-Straits investors as it rolled out a series of preferential policies in recent years as part of the Fujian Free Trade Zone. The city is also the only comprehensive pilot zone on the mainland targeting Taiwan, Lin added.

Pingtan municipal government has already set up a fund of 20 billion yuan ($2.9 billion) to boost the city's industrial development, with the government prioritizing the development of seven industries, namely tourism, finance, shipping logistics, construction, wind power, exhibitions and conferences, and information technology, according to Lin.

Lin Wenyao, director of the administrative committee of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, addresses the promotion conference in Beijing on May 25. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The promotion event already appears to be paying dividends. The conference witnessed the signing of 9 cooperative agreements worth a combined 83 billion yuan ($12.1 billion).

" We choose Pingtan largely due to the city's geographical advantage, enormous market potential and favorable business environment," said Hu Meiling, general manager of Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town Culture Co, a State-owned company that has agreed to cooperate with Pingtan across multiple sectors including tourism and culture.