First direct shipping line links China's Yangtze River region with Africa

A freight vessel carrying over 2,700 domestically made vehicles and construction machinery departed from Suzhou Port in east China's Jiangsu Province on Sunday, bound for Durban in South Africa.

This marked the launch of the first direct cargo shipping route from the Yangtze River basin to Africa, which offers combined roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) and container shipping services.

The shipping route will streamline transportation of goods between China's Yangtze River basin and Africa, making it easier for local businesses to access African markets.

Operating once a month, the service will primarily transport passenger cars, construction machinery, and related parts.

First direct shipping line links China's Yangtze River region with Africa

First direct shipping line from China's Yangtze River basin to Africa launched

The trilateral negotiations among Russia, the United States and Ukraine, aimed at ending the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict, are currently at a standstill, Russia’s military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov said on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that he was open to a ceasefire with Russia, but said that he did not foresee progress in negotiations until the conflict in Iran is "closed" or a fundamental ceasefire is reached among the United States, Israel, and Iran.

In 2026, delegations from Russia, the United States and Ukraine have held three rounds of peace talks, with the first two taking place in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 23-24 and on Feb. 4-5, and the last one in Geneva on Feb. 17-18.

Trilateral talks on ending Ukraine crisis at standstill: Russian intelligence chief