Original news was published on 06 January, 2017

What it means to be called China’s only “river-ocean transportation services center” is becoming clear for a huge port complex that encompasses the Zhoushan islands and the city of Ningbo.

The complex was tapped for the “river-ocean” role last April by the State Council, the government’s top policymaker, to complement China’s Belt and Road foreign trade initiative and a push for more inland economic development in cities along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

As part of a port expansion project that could enhance breakbulk cargo facilities, according to the China Ports website, contractors are expanding a Zhoushan oil storage terminal and container terminals, building a facility to handle grain and other agricultural products, and laying the groundwork for an industrial park with meat processing plants for cattle and other livestock imported from Australia.

Meanwhile, a railway linking Ningbo and Tibet recently opened to facilitate, among other cargo, shipments of mineral water from Tibetan springs to bottled-water consumers in eastern China. The government is also promoting a “marine tourism” industry on the scenic Zhoushan islands that are not included in the port development plan.

Zhoushan-Ningbo, whose combined facilities rank it as the world’s largest port complex in terms of total tonnage handled, was given the river-ocean designation because it’s a seaside area linked to the Yangtze by a canal. It’s also south of the river’s mouth at Shanghai.

To encourage the port region’s trade with inland cities, specially designed bulk cargo vessels able to haul up to 20,000 tons on the canal, up and down the river, and on the sea, were put into service last year. Zhoushan-Ningbo also includes a free trade zone that’s attracted foreign businesses, including Australian agriculture firms.

*NEWS SOURCE