Dalian's imports and exports amounted to 226.29 billion yuan ($31.45 billion) in the first half of this year, a year-on-year rise of 11.7 percent. Its trade with RCEP members was worth almost 76.84 billion yuan.

Pawel Gwozdecki, general manager of Maflow Components (Dalian), said: "Our company has rapidly developed under strong support from the administrative committee of the Dalian Area of China (Liaoning) Pilot Free Trade Zone since the area was established."

Poland-based Maflow Group produces rubber hoses used for making cars, air conditioner tubing and resin parts. Gwozdecki said he believes cooperation between the group and Dalian would last for the long term.

Dalian boasts diverse opening-up platforms such as economic and technological development zones, Jinpu New Area and the pilot free trade area.

Nearly 3,000 foreign-invested enterprises have been set up in the city over the past decade. Their total investment was $11.93 billion in the period, with an annual increase of 9.2 percent on average.

Dalian has pursued further reform and high-level opening-up over the past 10 years. The business environment of its industrial parks has kept improving.

The city has integrated parks that differ in level and kind, resulting in the formation of 16 major functional parks, since it started to further reform its investment platforms in 2019. The parks contributed 39 percent of the city's GDP and accounted for 86 percent of its total paid-in foreign investment last year, according to the city's bureau of commerce.