(Photo provided to Xinhua Daily)

The container ship SITC RENDE, loaded with fruits, vegetables, 3,000 tonnes of cement and other cargo, departed from Lianyungang Port on February 24, bound for Dara Sakor in Cambodia. This marked the successful inauguration of the direct shipping route between the two regions.

The journey is estimated to take about 8-10 days. Initially, two multipurpose vessels will operate a biweekly service on this route. The service will export vegetables, machinery and equipment from around Lianyungang to Cambodia, and import a variety of fruits, rice and other agricultural and sideline products from the country.

Lianyungang Port enjoys a strategic location as a pivot point of the Belt and Road Initiative and the eastern starting point of the New Eurasian Land Bridge, an international passageway linking the Pacific and the Atlantic. The direct cargo shipping will provide a cost-effective logistics solution, promoting trade cooperation between the two countries.