DUBAI, Oct. 24 -- China's Ningbo port in southeastern Zhejiang Province plans to cooperate with the emirate of Dubai, home to the Middle East's biggest container port in the Jebel Ali free zone, Dubai's daily Khaleej Times reported Saturday.

The report quoted Jiang Wei, secretary of Ningbo port's board, as saying that shipping lines have existed between Ningbo and Dubai, but no business cooperation was launched.

Jiang said Dubai is quickly emerging as a leading port and Ningbo eagerly awaits developing joint business relations. "We hope it will take place soon," he said.

For the first time in 2014, China became Dubai's largest foreign trade partner with bilateral exchange reaching 175 billion Dirhams (47.70 billion U.S. dollars).

Ningbo port has the largest and deepest water berths in China, he said.

Dubai, on the other hand, is home to stock-listed Dubai Ports (DP) World, the third largest global port operator, as well as the Jebel Ali free port.

Ningbo port is one of the most ancient ports in China. Currently, it has already been engaged in business relations with over 600 ports worldwide.