The ro-ro terminal in Dafeng Port, Jiangsu province, started construction on October 19. It is expected to be East China's largest vehicle import port once completed.

The project, with investment of CNY120M ($19.6M), will take a year to complete, and the terminal will be able to transport 400,000 vehicles per year.

"This terminal will help cut the transport cost of imported vehicles from countries nearby, such as South Korea," said the port authority.

The port has established co-operation with UK, a South Korean ro-ro shipping company, and the new terminal will help develop sea-land transport between China and South Korea, according to Tao Ying, GM of Dafeng Port.

Dafeng Port is a sea-orientated cargo port and has been listed by the national government as one of important port in the middle of the east coastline of China. It handles ocean-going vessels and containers to or from South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong.