Xiamen port ushers in a new journey

The container with a banner of "the ten millionth container at Xiamen port in 2017" is lifted to indicate Xiamen port has ranked among the most powerful ports in China with an annual handling capacity of ten million containers.

As the container with a banner of "the ten millionth container at Xiamen port in 2017" was lifted, the Xiamen port ranked among the most powerful ports in China with an annual handling capacity of ten million containers, Xiamen Daily reported on Dec 20.

The container business at Xiamen port has been in existence from 1983 and the then small port has now grown into one which is internationally known and bustling after 34 years' development.

People from all walks of life in Xiamen express their attitudes towards the development of Xiamen port from different perspectives.

Wang Longchu, director of Xiamen Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, said that Xiamen port was a special economic zone, a bonded logistics park and a pilot free trade zone, and will become a free port. All of these things offer preferential policies for more business.

Wang also added that the development of a city is inseparable from the development of its port and Xiamen has invited a group of leading enterprises in logistics to settle in the city in recent years, laying a solid foundation for the development of its port.

People from all walks of life in Xiamen attend the celebration ceremony to witness the historical moment in Xiamen port's development.

"It's a historical breakthrough for Xiamen port," He Fulong, former president of Xiamen ITG Holding Group, said with excitement. "As the port becomes a powerful one in the world, it will also have numerous development opportunities."

He suggested that the port should focus on technology and innovation and also attract more high-end talents for further development. He also proposed that a relationship based on co-operation and friendly competition with surrounding ports should be formed.

Li Gang from COSCO Shipping Lines Co commented that in recent years, Xiamen port has built deep-water channels and berths to adapt to the trend of larger sized ships and now four 200,000-ton container ships, the largest ship of its kind in the world, can berth in the port at the same time.

He believes that the ten million containers' handling capacity, the results of the port's active actions to improve its competiveness, shows its strength to the global shipping industry.

Sun Rui, vice-president of Zhonggu Logistics Co, said that their company has cooperated with the Xiamen port since 2000 and its friendly business environment has helped the company develop rapidly in Xiamen.

Sun revealed that they will cooperate further with Xiamen port to help the port grow into an important pivotal port for containers in coastal areas of China.

The 150,000-ton MSC Altair loaded with containers berths in the Xiamen port.