Guangzhou Port Authority's deputy director general Yuan Yue has pledged more openness and cooperation on a visit to London.
Speaking at a roadshow reception attended by leading UK shipping figures, she said: "Guangzhou will constantly ease restrictions, deepen reform and open up as the south gate of China."
She also said government finance was being used to develop the cruiseship industry in the region and that 297 of the world's top 500 companies had already invested in the city.
Addressing London's leading position in finance, insurance and brokering, she added: "We hope to learn advanced experience from London and cooperate.
"This meeting has no particular agenda. I would just like you to know more about Guangzhou."
Guests included Lord Mountevans, chairman of Maritime London, and EA Gibson managing director Nigel Richardson.
Guangzhou links to more than 200 shipping routes and ranked seventh in the world in 2017, handling 20.37m teu.
It is experiencing fast throughput growth in containers, oil, steel, grain, ro-ro and coal.
The city is hosting the World Port Conference in 2019.
