It is a major initiative which supports the country’s wider Belt and Road Initiative. Launched in December 2018, the project has grown in scale and importance, enhancing international maritime connectivity.

Per information from Xiamen Customs and China Central Television (CCTV), 20,293 container ships have passed through these routes to date.

The total cargo throughput reached 23.92 million TEUs, showing the project’s important role in facilitating world trade.

The Silk Road Maritime Transport initiative functions as an international shipping service platform, linking China with trade partners across Europe, Africa and Asia.

At the heart of this effort is Port of Xiamen, situated in eastern China’s Fujian Province, which serves as the departure point for 61 of the active routes.

This move not only shows China’s increasing influence on global logistics but also shows the value of maritime infrastructure in driving economic cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative.