Maritime Silk Road trade to double by 2020

Trade between Guangdong province and countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road by 2020 is expected to be double that of last year, according to a senior government official.

Zhu Xiaodan, governor of Guangdong, said the province would encourage exports of goods with independent intellectual property rights together with high-tech and high value-added products to countries and regions along the ancient maritime route.

"We will open more trade and economic offices and commercial trade centers in the emerging market," Zhu said at the opening of the Guangdong 21st Century Maritime Silk Road International Expo in Dongguan, Guangdong on Friday.

Trade between Guangdong and ASEAN members reached $102.2 billion last year, accounting for 23 percent of China's total trade with ASEAN countries and regions, according to the provincial government sources.

Meanwhile, Guangdong will accelerate two-way investment with countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road, with the figure expected to surpass $14 billion yuan by 2020, according to Zhu.