Xiamen cruise terminal handles record single-day passenger trips

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Xiamen International Cruise Terminal in east China witnessed a bustling week of maritime activity, handling four international cruise voyages between Monday and Saturday, its data showed.

Over 15,000 passenger trips passed through the port during this period, with a single-day record of 8,000 passenger trips on Saturday, the highest since the full resumption of international cruise operations in 2023. 

Among the arrivals was the Westerdam, the largest foreign-flagged cruise ship to anchor in Xiamen this year, carrying more international tourists than any other foreign cruise ship.

The surge aligns with China's recent expansion of its 240-hour visa-free transit program to additional ports, announced on Nov 3. The country also announced it would extend its unilateral visa-exemption arrangements for more than 40 countries to Dec 31, 2026, in the latest move to further open up to the world.

To streamline passenger entry, the terminal has implemented tailored clearance strategies, deploying 34 manual channels and 20 automated gates to expedite the processing. Additionally, a code-scanning system has been introduced to reduce the average clearance time to less than five seconds.

Thanks to its operational efficiency and supportive policies, Xiamen has attracted global cruise operators. Since January, the port has handled 36 cruise voyages and nearly 100,000 passenger trips, solidifying its role as a key hub in China's cruise industry.

Xiamen cruise terminal handles record single-day passenger trips

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Monday that China welcomes foreign enterprises including Warburg Pincus and long-term capital to continue expanding their investment in China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with former U.S. Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, now chairman of Warburg Pincus.

The vice premier said that China is fully implementing the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, in accordance with the suggestions and arrangements of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and advancing the building of a unified national market, unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up and promoting high-quality economic development.

For his part, Geithner said that he is optimistic about the prospects of China's economic development, and Warburg Pincus is willing to continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market and promote the deepening of economic and trade cooperation between the United States and China.

China welcomes foreign enterprises, long-term capital to continue expanding investment in China: vice premier