South China’s Hainan free port has launched its first inter-continental shipping line that will link the region to Australia and other Southeast Asian countries, media reports said.
The new shipping line will connect ports in China, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia, according to authorities in Hainan’s Yangpu Economic Development Zone. At present, two ships with a total of 1,740 containers have been put into operation on the route.
It is reported that the Yangpu-South Pacific-Australia route will facilitate trades of products such as coconut, beef, minerals, logs and other consumer products across the region.
Chinese also aims to develop the southern island province into a globally influential high-level free trade port by the middle of the century.
After the pandemic brought economic activities to a halt in China, cargo throughput at major ports across China continues to recover as economic activities finally normalises.
Data released by the China Port Association shows that cargo throughput went up 9 percent year-on-year in early September, with foreign trade throughput surging 16.5 percent.
According to the association, container throughput increased by 7.4 percent year on year, accelerating 4.7 percentage points from the rate in late August.
It is also reported that China is planning to open a number of ports for ship crew changes as the Asian superpower eases restrictions for the entry of foreign nationals into the country.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Immigration Administration announced that foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters, and reunion are allowed to enter China with no need to apply for new visas from September 28.