As an important part of the China (Zhangjiagang) Yangtze Culture and Art Festival in 2013, a promotion conference of the Zhangjiagang Bonded Port Area Auto Import Port was held in Guomao Hotel on Oct 19.

Over 100 Chinese and foreign businesspeople from various auto related fields, including the China Automobile Dealers Association, automobile brand enterprises and after-sales services, participated in the conference. The other participants included officials from China's Ministry of Commerce, the Zhangjiagang municipal government and the Zhangjiagang Bonded Port Area.

Zhu Lifan, deputy secretary of the Zhangjiagang municipal Party committee, was on hand to address the conference. The Auto Import Port of Zhangjiagang Bonded Port Area boosted Zhangjiagang's modern construction and further developed the modern service industry in the Yangtze River Valley, according to Zhu. Zhu also welcomed more investment to the auto port from home and abroad.

Zhangjiagang Bonded Port Area Auto Import Port was officially put into use in February. As the only auto import port in the Yangtze River Valley, it aims to be the most convenient auto and auto parts import and export channel and also the biggest imported auto logistics industrial park in the area.

The port has imported and exported over 10,000 automobiles to date. This number will be 300,000 in three to five years, with 100,000 imported automobiles and 200,000 exported automobiles.

A number of auto-related projects will be or are under construction in the port now, including the first phase of the auto logistics park covering an area of 85.87 hectares, an auto exhibition and trade center of 80,000 square meters, and other projects with an investment of 2.6 billion yuan ($427 million).

A total of six projects have signed contracts at the promotion conference.