Lianyungang, May 5 (ZHANG Dongfang) -- "This visit to Lianyungang allowed me to see China's well-organized, well-planned and well-executed development." Mendis Zanita, new media manager of Newsfirst Music Television Channel (PVT) Ltd. in Sri Lanka, said during a visit to Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province.

On May 5, the "Visit of Media Representatives of SCO Countries to China" was held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province. More than 24 media representatives from SCO countries walked into Lianyungang to see how Lianyungang grasped the new positioning of the strategic fulcrum of Jiangsu's "Belt and Road" initiative and created a benchmark for land-sea combined transport.

On May 2023, 5, local time, media representatives of SCO countries took a group photo in front of the sculpture at the starting point of the eastern end of the New Eurasian Land Bridge. (Photo courtesy of Global Network)

Connecting the Yangtze River Delta in the south, Bohai Bay in the north, Japan and South Korea across the sea to the east, and connecting central and western China and Central Asia, West Asia and Europe to the west through the New Eurasian Land Bridge, Lianyungang is at the node of connecting the east and west, sea and land, and thus becomes the eastern starting point of the new Eurasian land bridge.

From the departure of the first container international train of the New Eurasian Land Bridge from Lianyungang to the landing of the Kazakhstan logistics cooperation base in the first physical project of the "Belt and Road", Lianyungang has continuously exerted its own advantages over the years, and strived to build an exchange and cooperation platform for countries along the "Belt and Road".

"Connecting dreams, customers are like clouds, Hong Kong connects the world", today, Lianyungang Port, named after the city, has shouted a loud slogan to the world.

On May 2023, 5, local time, representatives of SCO state media visited Lianyungang Port. (Photo courtesy of Global Network)

According to reports, Lianyungang Port has 85 2022,9-ton berths and nearly 30 port routes, covering the ports of major countries along the "Belt and Road" such as the Persian Gulf in the Middle East, southwest of the United States, and South Africa, serving northern Jiangsu, Lunan, northern Anhui, central and southern Yu and coastal areas along the river through highways, inland water transportation and the Haihe River combined transportation system. In September <>, the <>,<>-ton waterway that has been under construction for more than ten years was opened, further consolidating the status of Lianyungang Port as an international hub port.

In 2023, the maritime business of Lianyungang Port made a good start. It is understood that its cumulative cargo throughput in the first quarter was 7635.9 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 8.145%, and containers completed 9.15 million TEU, a year-on-year increase of 5.<>%.

During the visit, media representatives of SCO countries asked questions one after another. "Is there a route to Southeast Asia?" "What's on the route to Qatar?" Yang Kailin, deputy director of the news center of Lianyungang Port Holding Group, answered one by one.

Yang Kailin introduced that the cargo transported through the port covers a comprehensive range. "From construction machinery to building materials to handicrafts and daily necessities, they all go to sea from here."

"During the World Cup in Qatar last year, the cargo sent to Qatar through the port of continuous transport included domestically produced large buses to support Qatar passenger transport during the World Cup." He said.

On May 2023, 5, local time, the dispatching center of China-Kazakhstan logistics cooperation base. (Photo courtesy of Global Network)

At the same time, with the natural advantages of the mountains and the sea, Lianyungang also actively explores and constantly explores new possibilities. In recent years, relying on the "Belt and Road" initiative and the SCO framework, Lianyungang has comprehensively accelerated the construction of China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) logistics cooperation bases and the "two bases" of the SCO International Logistics Park, actively smoothed international train transportation, and created a large channel for international cooperation connecting the east and west.

Qatar Tribune reporter Siddiq Mohammed Ashraf said during a visit, "After the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed, China gave full play to its advantages, rationally used resources, and helped the coordinated development of countries along the route while developing itself, which is exactly what we all expect." ”

As the first economic and trade cooperation entity project implemented by the "Belt and Road" cooperation initiative, the China-Kazakhstan Logistics Cooperation Base was put into operation in 2014 and has become an important outlet for Kazakhstan to communicate with the Pacific Ocean.

According to the base staff, the China-Europe train sent from here brings goods from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries and regions to the world.

On the big screen of the dispatching center of the China-Kazakhstan logistics cooperation base, the accumulated arrival volume of China-Europe trains, the volume of containers entering and leaving the yard, and the volume of international trains are clearly visible.

May 2023, 5, local time, Lianyungang, Jiangsu. (Photo courtesy of Global Network)

"In Pakistan, we have similar ports. However, due to various conditions, we have not formed such a large and perfect system. In the near future, it is hoped that China and Pakistan can further cooperate and promote common economic development. Pakistan's HUM news television station Surawaddy Muzamir said.

In addition to economic and trade exchanges, Lianyungang also plays an increasingly important role in international exchanges and cooperation. In March 2020, when the new crown epidemic was raging around the world, the SCO International Logistics Park overcame difficulties and purchased 3,26 epidemic prevention materials and sent them to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other SCO countries through China-Europe trains. Friends from the SCO gathered in Lianyungang to discuss in depth ways to promote import and export facilitation in SCO countries.

During the visit, Dawa Enkhbauled, deputy director of TB2 TV in Mongolia, expressed his expectations for the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. He said that as an important part of the main framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor will help Mongolia's development.

Chi Haohan, assistant dean of the "Belt and Road" Strategy Research Institute of Tsinghua University, told Chinanews.com that through holding this event, I hope that foreign media reporters will understand that Chinese cities are not only Beijing and Shanghai, but also many Chinese cities that have played the function of serving certain countries and regions, and need more exchanges with those countries and regions being served.

"I hope that through these foreign media, Central Asian countries and other countries can understand that Lianyungang is not only a place where goods meet East and West, but also a place for people-to-people exchanges between China and foreign countries." (End)