Peru's newly-opened Chancay Port is expected to play a vital role in promoting trade between South America and Asia, according to Peruvian and Chinese experts.
An opening ceremony was held for the port on Thursday, after which the transportation time of goods exported from South America to the Asian market will be shortened to between 25 and 35 days, reducing logistics costs by more than 20 percent.
China's financial hub Shanghai is expected to welcome more goods from South America. And from Shanghai, these products will be shipped throughout Asia, including Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asian countries.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Peruvian and Chinese guests shared their expectations on the port.
"Now with the new port of Chancay, many opportunities are going to come. It's going to be easier for us to bring our products here to Chancay and then to Shanghai," said Ysabel Zea, a co-founder of Peruvian brand Warmpaca.
"Chinese electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products are the 'three emerging products'. Take Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs) as an example. One of the four berths is designated for automobiles. So the port will greatly facilitate the export of China's 'three emerging products'," said Wu Meng, head of the Department of International Cooperation of the China Council for The Promotion of International Trade.
Newly-opened Chancay Port to bring more opportunities for Peru, China
Some Iranians in Türkiye are crossing back over the border, driven by worry and desperation, as a nationwide communications blackout in Iran has left them cut off from their loved ones.
Protests have erupted in many Iranian cities since Dec. 28. They initially began with Tehran bazaar merchants demonstrating against the sharp devaluation of the national currency rial, and soaring inflation, before spreading to other cities. The unrest has led to casualties among both security forces and civilians.
At the Turkish-Iranian border, many are returning with no certainty about what awaits them, filled instead with questions and growing fear for those on the other side of the border.
"I went to Van yesterday for internet. I urgently needed to use the internet. I got it done. Now I'm heading straight back. There are protests everywhere. We can't get any news. We can't communicate with our families. And it's not just me, there are many Iranians outside the country who can't reach their families," said Feriste, an Iranian citizen.
With communications blacked out across Iran, those outside the country feel powerless to check on the situation back home. For some, this silence has prompted them to return across the border, even as tensions continue to rise.
"We can't get any news. There is no internet. Everything is shut down. I want to search. I want to find out. I want to see my brother. I'm going to see my family," said Husnu, an Iranian citizen.
"I work in Türkiye, and I have no news from Iran at all. I'm going back because I'm worried about my family. It's been days since I last heard from them, and because I'm worried, I'm returning to Iran now. Of course, we are concerned about our safety. We don't know what awaits us there," said another Iranian.
With protests escalating and government blackouts still in place, many Iranians are caught between staying in safety abroad and risking everything to reconnect with their families.
"We had to come to Türkiye because we couldn't reach our families. Schools were closed already. All official institutions were shut down. We have no information about other cities either, because there is no communication network there. There is no television, no internet. We can't even check Twitter," said Nazlican, another Iranian citizen.
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
Iranians in Türkiye return home, fearing for their families amid unrest in Iran
