China's ancient Maritime Silk Road, by which trade flourished from east to west some 600 years ago, is preparing to apply for UNESCO World Heritage status, a deputy to the National People's Congress said.

The joint proposal will be made by officials from the eight coastal cities of Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, Beihai, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Ningbo, Penglai and Yangzhou.

These cities played important roles in boosting China's trade and economic exchanges along what became known as the Maritime Silk Road, according to Wang Zhongbing, mayor of Zhanjiang.

"We will work actively with the other seven cities to make sure the Maritime Silk Road becomes listed as a part of world cultural heritage,” said Wang, also a National People's Congress deputy.

According to www.cultural-china.com, a non-profit website initiated by Shanghai News and Press Bureau, "The Maritime Silk Road refers to the route from each port in south China, such as Guangzhou or Quanzhou to Southeast Asia, India, Arabia or even farther by heading west by boat."

The website continued: "… the Maritime Silk Road replaced the Silk Road on land to become the major passage for communication between the east and the west after the Song and Yuan dynasties."

In the Report of the Work of the Government, Premier Li Keqiang said China will enhance economic and technological cooperation by launching a number of major projects, including a Silk Road economic belt and a 21st century Maritime Silk Road.

Apart from jointly applying for a listing of the world cultural heritage, Wang said the cities will develop key industrial projects and open up ports and islands to better develop a modern-day Maritime Silk Road.