A local official addresses the Zhoushan Maritime Service Industry Investment Fair held in Zhoushan, in eastern Zhejiang province, on June 25. [Photo/zhoushan.cn] 

A meeting to attract investment for the local maritime service industry was held in Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang province on June 25.

The meeting -- a sideline event of the fifth China Seafarer Skills Competition which opened on the same day in the city -- was attended by more than 200 representatives of maritime service providers from home and abroad.

Zhoushan authorities gave presentations about the city's current construction of an international maritime services base and a Northeast Asian bunker fuel supply center, and talked about the preferential policies currently in place for boosting modern maritime services. 

A swag of agreements involving Zhoushan were signed at the meeting, including one involving the city's cooperation with SGS -- the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company – as well as a project to build a ship repair center with London-based V.Group, the world's largest ship management company.

Zhoushan port authorities sign a cooperation agreement with SGS, the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

Several experts were appointed as policy and technical consultants to Zhoushan's international maritime services base. 

Officials said Zhoushan has made remarkable progress in the development of its maritime services since the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established in the city more than two years ago.

Statistics showed that the city supplied 3.6 million metric tons of bunker fuel last year, ranking it as No 1 bunker port in China and among the top 10 bunker ports in the world.

Many leading international oil sector companies have set up branches in the city, including three of the top four oil inspection and testing agencies, local officials said. 

"We have attracted more than 60 companies focusing on shipping, finance, maritime services, oil testing and ship management since last year," said Wang Xin, an official in charge of the construction of Zhoushan's international maritime service base. 

"They will help enhance our maritime services," Wang added.