Bulk cargo and container shipping route links China, DPRK
Xinhua, September 25, 2015 Adjust font size:
A bulk cargo and container shipping route between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been put into operation, focusing on coal import from DPRK and grocery export from China, authorities said on Friday.
The route, linking Longkou port of east China's Shandong Peninsula to Nampo port of western DPRK was the first scheduled shipping line for bulk cargo and container between the two countries. It is serviced by seven ships, which complete one circuit of the ports every ten days, according to Longkou Port Group.
The route was jointly established by Longkou Port Group, Liaoning Hongxiang Industrial Group and a shipping company in DPRK in a bid to promote international trade under China's "Belt and Road" initiative.
Located at the Bohai Sea coast and built in 1914, Longkou port handled 75.07 million tonnes of cargo and 550,000 TEU of containers last year.
"The opening of the route can help improve the service function of the port and is of great significance for the port's transformation and upgrading," said Zhang Haijun, general manager of Longkou Port Group. Endi