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As a gateway for international trade and formerly a hub of the Japan Sea rim economic zone, Maizuru is actively involved in exchange with overseas cities. It signed a sister-city agreement with Nakhodka, Russia, in 1961, and a friendship agreement with Dalian, China, in 1982. There are regular services between Maizuru and the Russian ports of Vanino and Vostochny; Chongjin, North Korea; and Pusan, South Korea. Maizuru is becoming a key port in Japan's expanding trade with China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
In 1995, Maizuru was selected as the first Foreign Access Zone (FAZ) on the Japan Sea side of Japan. In the fall of 1997, offices for trade-related businesses, an exhibition center, and distribution facilities were completed. This represented a big step forward in the city's support system for import-export businesses and has inspired much hope for future development. In the future, Maizuru needs to develop facilities for further internationalization, such as for FAZ- based parallel imports. |
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| Defense ships of all types can be seen at anchor in Maizuru, where the Imperial Navy set up the city's first military port in 1901. |
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