Vehicles pass through a toll station on an expressway to enter the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on Feb 28, 2017. [Photo/IC] 

Zhoushan will take steps to accelerate the development of its China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the future, after it received approval of a proposal for the cause at the fourth session of the seventh People's Congress of Zhoushan on Feb 18. 

Established on April 1, 2017, the zone has made great contributions to the city over the past year, with nearly 2,000 oil companies having settled in it and 59 system innovation achievements made. It is currently the largest bunkering port in China.

"However, there's still room for the development of the zone," said Yan Zhenyu, a deputy to the Congress, adding that more efforts are needed to enhance the local industrial development, human resources protection, and investment attraction. 

In drafting the proposal, the standing committee of the People's Congress of Zhoushan organized a special inspection of Zhejiang FTZ ahead of the session. Major projects in the zone, such as the Boeing 737 Completion and Delivery Center and the Yushan Green Petrochemical Base, were inspected at the time. 

"The proposal focuses on the whole oil and gas industrial chain, business climate, and industrial collaboration in exploring the ways for promoting Zhejiang FTZ development," said Yan.

The person in charge of the finance and economic committee of the municipal people's congress said that the approval of the proposal is significant for guiding a unified approach to develop the zone that will help Zhoushan achieve greater economic growth.