Sun Hong (third left), Party chief of Zhuanghe, and Mayor Zhao Yongbo (second right) attend the opening ceremony of a wood processing and manufacturing base. The city plans to build three ports to handle wood imports and exports. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A cold-chain logistics park is due to be built as part of the expansion project and the park said it will help related enterprises cut transportation costs by at least 100 million yuan ($15.7 million).

"The expansion will not only help with Zhuanghe's industrial upgrading but also attract more investors," Zhao said.

For example, as China has banned commercial clear cutting, the country needs to import a large amount of wood products. Zhuanghe port plans to help foster a 50-billion-yuan wood industry by handling wood imports and exports of furniture manufactured in areas including the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang.

As part of Dalian port, Zhuanghe port will also contribute to the implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives and the growth of the northeastern Asian economic circle, Zhao said.