China has launched an increasing number of new international air cargo routes largely thanks to the country's industrial transformation and upgrading, the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the development of cross-border e-commerce.
At Nantong Xingdong International Airport, a batch of about 19 tons of goods will be exported overseas on a full freighter heading to South Korea's Incheon International Airport. After the route was officially opened in June this year, it has been operating three times a week.
"Sixty percent of the goods on this flight are cross-border e-commerce goods, mainly daily necessities. This year, our cross-border e-commerce cargo volume is expected to reach about 4,000 tons, and '9610' ('cross-border trade e-commerce' export model) products have increased significantly, up about 150 percent year on year," said Zhang Zhufeng, deputy general manager of Jiangsu Nantong Hutong Airport Logistics Development.
The customs supervision code "9610" represents the "cross-border trade e-commerce" model. This model is tailored for B2C (business-to-consumer) orders in cross-border e-commerce involving small packages, multiple product names and high-frequency shipments.
Data showed that in November alone, 11 new international air cargo routes were opened nationwide, with more than 30 round-trip flights added each week.
The number of cargo flights to Southeast Asia, Central and West Asia, South Asia, Europe, and the Americas have more than doubled compared with 2019.
"Airlines have opened new routes and deployed more transport capacity based on their estimates on market demand. By expanding international all-cargo routes, China's share of air logistics capacity has continued to increase, demonstrating its ability to independently respond to the industrial and supply chains," said Qi Qi, an expert of the High-Quality Development Research Center under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
China launches more int'l air freight routes amid soaring cargo demand
Peace, cooperation and friendship should be the new narrative of the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday.
Wang made the statement at a press conference in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's supreme organ of state power.
"The South China Sea is home to the world's busiest, safest and freest shipping lanes. Over the past year, cooperation in the South China Sea has maintained a sound momentum. China had in-depth discussions with Indonesia on joint maritime development. China held bilateral dialogue with Malaysia on maritime issues and carried out cooperation with Vietnam on sustainable fisheries development. Just recently, China Coast Guard successfully rescued over a dozen Filipino crewmen distressed at the South China Sea. All these are ample proof that peace, cooperation and friendship should be the new narrative of the South China Sea. Making waves wins no hearts and fermenting trouble finds no takers," said Wang.
To achieve lasting peace and stability in the South China Sea requires solid institutional support, noted Wang, highlighting that consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), a long-sought framework to manage differences, have now reached a critical juncture.
"To achieve lasting peace and stability in the South China Sea requires solid institutional support. As we continue with the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, the COC, as you mentioned, has reached crunch time. All relevant parties look forward to wrapping it up this year. Together with the parties, China has the confidence and the resolve to remove interference, bridge differences, expand common ground and reach an agreement as soon as possible. The COC will provide the golden rules for the parties to effectively manage differences, build trust, and advance cooperation," he said.
The foreign minister called for the Philippines to fulfill its responsibility as this year's ASEAN chair and make positive contributions to regional peace and stability.
"We hope that as this year's ASEAN chair, the Philippines will recognize and fulfill its responsibility, resist the pull of self-interest, and play a positive and constructive role for peace and stability in the region," said Wang.
The fourth session of the 14th NPC opened on Thursday and is scheduled to run till March 12.
Peace, cooperation, friendship should be new narrative of South China Sea: Chinese FM
