A more stable Korean peninsula, warmer Sino-Japanese ties, and the potential opening of North Korea could be the impetus for China's north-eastern province of Liaoning to crank up its economy.

Local officials told visiting reporters recently that a more stable North-east Asia will help China's rust belt move up a gear economically. They are also optimistic that a pilot free trade zone (FTZ) across three of the province's cities - Shenyang, Yingkou and Dalian - will speed up efforts to revitalise the province and its surrounding area.