A cargo ship berths at Haitian Wharf in Xiamen, Fujian province on Aug 3. [Photo by Wang Xieyun/xmnn.cn]
Mediterranean Shipping Company added a new shipping route to Xiamen, Fujian province on Aug 3, which will help enhance the city's competitiveness in container shipping services, Xiamen Daily reported.
The new route, known as New Origami, stretches across Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, with Xiamen Port being its only stop in China.
The shipping company also upgraded another route known as Seagull, which includes Xiamen Port as its last stop in China. This will allow goods leaving the city to be delivered to Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia and Singapore quicker than before.
According to the city's port administrations, the adjustment is expected to result in an increased number of goods passing through Xiamen Port, leading to explosive growth in international business.
Statistics showed that the port's international transfer business increased more than 40 percent year-on-year in June and July.
China has decided to extend its visa waiver policy to ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom starting from Feb 17.
Forty-one new port-of-entry duty-free shops have been established nationwide, with Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, and Xiamen International Cruise Center included on the list.
