"The expo offers an opportunity. Through our exhibition at the expo, tourists from Zhanjiang and other parts of China will gain more knowledge of our company and services, facilitating our expansion in the market."

The expo was held in the coastal city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province from Nov 24 to 27. The annual event, with its first session held in 2012, is a platform for enterprises, organizations and industry insiders from all over the world to showcase their latest achievements, make exchanges and seek cooperation opportunities.

More than 2,300 exhibitors from 53 countries and regions attended this year's event, including 329 overseas enterprises and organizations. Thailand, as the guest of honor of this year's expo, brought a delegation of over 40 enterprises and associations. More than 20 enterprises from Malaysia also took part in the event.

Zhanjiang Mayor Wang Zhongbing said the expo plays an important role in promoting marine economic trade, marine science and technology, marine equipment, marine culture and tourism.

He said the city will further increase investment in Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries and promote economic cooperation in industries such as fishing, aquaculture and architecture.

Ruzlisham Bin Mat Diah, investment consul of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, a government body with the aim of promoting investment between Malaysia and China, said there are great business opportunities that can be explored between Zhanjiang and Malaysia. For example, Zhanjiang is known for its marine products and Malaysia has a number of food processing enterprises.

"We hope to take advantage of the expo to attract more Chinese marine businesses, hoping to invest in Malaysia in the aquaculture sector. We can offer a lot of land for Chinese enterprises to do business there," he said.

He added that two local enterprises in Zhanjiang have shown interest in investing in Malaysia, and that they are in the process of negotiations.