Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

China's investment in Peru's Chancay Megaport marks a new milestone in the growing China-Peru friendship and is expected to boost local tourism and economy, according to Peruvian Vice Minister of Tourism Madeleine Burns Vidaurrazaga.

Located 80 kilometers north of Lima, the Chancay Port will reduce sea freight time from Peru to Asia from 45 days to just 23. With shorter transit times and lower logistics costs, companies like Warmpaca will be able to deliver popular Peruvian products, such as its famous alpaca dolls, to Chinese customers much faster.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) at a Chinese Park, the vice minister emphasized the significance of this new port, calling it an important tourist resource and a symbol of the enduring friendship between China and Peru.

"For us, it's very important. It's a new resource, tourist resource made from the Chinese community here in Peru and reminds us of how long the Chinese people are in Peru helping to develop our economy. Now we have a new, a big new Inca Trail, which is Chancay to Shanghai," said Vidaurrazaga.

Regarding the Chancay Port, the vice minister highlighted the environment-friendly initiatives surrounding the project, which aim to protect local wildlife populations.

"We are really surprised when visiting Chancay Port. Everything is technology in that port. But it is very important that they really care about environmental issues, inclusive issues. Even we are working together for a new tourism plan for Chancay Port, because a lot of people will visit Chancay. It's very near to Lima, but also they have a wonderful gastronomy and a special place like Caral that is more than 5,000 years before Christ. So it's very ancient. So it's the first city in the world created for commercial things, not for a war, not for protection, just for commercial market. So it is very important," said Vidaurrazaga.

Looking ahead, Vidaurrazaga believes the Chancay Port will foster the development of Peru, both in terms of investment and tourism.

"Chancay Port also will increase the movement between China and Peru. And now we are looking for more tourism. We notice the investment of China in Peru is growing. So even in the schools, the young people are interested to learn mandarin, because Peru has a very open economy too, we sign agreements with 122 countries, and we are open to the world economy. So this is a new way as the president of China said, this is a new global way to exchange our customs, our goods, to make friendship with all the countries," said Vidaurrazaga.

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

Chancay Port to boost local economy, tourism: Peruvian official

China's first 500-kV cross-border alternating-current power interconnection project entered service Monday, creating the highest voltage grid tie between the two countries and advancing Belt and Road energy cooperation.

The project raises two-way power transfer capacity between the two countries from 50,000 kW to 1.5 million kW, enabling the annual transmission of about 3 billion kWh of clean electricity, roughly 30 times the capacity of previous lines, according to China Southern Power Grid.

As the largest cross-border grid project and the highest-voltage power link between China and Laos, it connects southwest China's Yunnan Province with Oudomxay and Luang Namtha provinces in northern Laos.

Cross-border electricity trading began as the project entered operation. About 4.81 million kWh of power from clean energy bases in northern Laos was transmitted to Yunnan through the new line, marking a more regular and institutionalized phase of power connectivity between the two countries.

It is also the first time an overseas new energy project has participated in China's electricity market, the company said. The power involved in the transaction came from a large mountain photovoltaic project in Laos, one of the core supporting power sources for the interconnection line.

"This project is the cross-border power grid project with the highest voltage level between China and Laos. Leveraging the China-Laos power grid interconnection and the power markets in southern China, surplus hydropower from Laos can be transmitted to China during the rainy season, while China can supply supplemental power to northern Laos during the dry season. This project represents yet another landmark achievement between China and Laos in deepening power cooperation and jointly advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative," said Li Jingru, general manager of Electricite du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), a joint venture of China Southern Power Grid and Lao state-run Electricite du Laos.

The solar project has an average annual power generation capacity of about 1.65 billion kWh. In 2026, it is expected to transmit about 1.1 billion kWh of solar power across the border, supporting energy complementarity between the two countries.

"In the future, efforts will be made to further promote normalized cross-border electricity trading, meet the trading needs such as electricity transmission from Laos to China's Yunnan, from China's Yunnan to Laos, and from Laos to China's Guangdong, and facilitate the optimal allocation of energy resources in the Lancang-Mekong region," said Li Minhong, marketing director of China Southern Power Grid.

Construction of the interconnection project began in late February last year. Spanning a total length of 177.5 km, the transmission line includes a 145-km Chinese section and a 32.5-km Lao section.

New China-Laos power link expands transfer capacity 30-fold, boosts electricity trading