A busy harbor in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Nantong in East China's Zhejiang province was recently included in a national pilot program for the construction of ecological systems integrating industrial chains and supply chains.

Twelve cities across the nation were included in the program launched by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The project aims to boost the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry in China by developing regional ecological systems that integrate industrial chains and supply chains.

Nantong is included primarily due to its pillar sectors of shipbuilding and marine engineering, which have been a candidate to become advanced manufacturing industrial clusters in China.

Asia's largest hinge suction dredger Day Kun, China's first polar exploration cruise ship, and the nation's first 20,000-TEU container ship were all manufactured in Nantong.