China is building the first Sino-Malaysian industrial park in Qinzhou, a southwestern city. Meanwhile, preferential policies will be used to promote the development of relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Chen Zhou, director of the department of Asian affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, said Malaysia is China's largest trading partner in the ASEAN bloc, so China is making an effort to ensure the success of the project.

"The park will be a platform to display China's opening up to the ASEAN countries and to provide access to the Chinese market," Chen said.

Qinzhou is setting up a deepwater channel for ships of 300,000 deadweight tons in October.

By the end of the year, a high-speed rail link will be established to facilitate a short journey to Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Zhang Xiaoqin, Party secretary of Qinzhou, said a model area of cooperation in the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area is being established, covering 49 square kilometers.

He said the overall planning of the park is complete and the development period will take 10 to 15 years. Bank of China has been confirmed as a participant in the project.