A container carrier berths at Xiamen Port in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]
Two new shipping routes were named after the Silk Road Maritime, increasing the total number of routes under the brand to 72, including 55 in Xiamen, the local port authority announced at a promotional conference held on April 8 in the coastal city in East China's Fujian province.
Silk Road Maritime, China's first Belt and Road international comprehensive logistics service platform focusing on shipping, was launched at Xiamen Port on Dec 24, 2018.
Since then, more than 2,000 voyages have been made on the routes, carrying 4.75 million twenty-foot equivalent units. During the first quarter of this year, the container throughput increased 17.5 percent year-on-year to 795,700 TEUs.
An alliance has also been formed with 207 members involved in ports, shipping, logistics, trade, investment, finance, information, and scientific research worldwide.
Earlier this year, the platform was included in the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, marking the start of a new stage for its development.
Policies related to a special fund for the platform were also launched at the conference. A total of 200 million yuan ($30.61 million) will be distributed each year through 2022 to support the development of new shipping routes, container transit business, as well as sea-rail transportation.
China announced and implemented on May 15 a policy allowing visa-free entry of foreign tourist groups aboard cruise ships via all cruise ship ports along the country's coastline.
China and Georgia are set to waive visa requirements for travelers starting May 28.
