The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has gained a new fast-track trade link with Europe, as a weekly Arctic container service departed Guangzhou's Nansha Port on Thursday morning.
The vessel, named "Riyadh Mukaab," docked at Nansha on Wednesday afternoon and, following overnight cargo loading and unloading, set sail early Thursday. Local immigration inspection authorities opened a green channel for the ship, streamlining customs clearance and ensuring its timely departure.
Operating via Russia's Northern Sea Route, the new service reduces the voyage from Guangzhou to Felixstowe, Britain, to approximately 28 days, cutting travel time by 14 days compared with the traditional route via the Cape of Good Hope.
The route's commercial appeal lies in shorter transit times and a potential reduction in inventory and delivery risks for exporters. But it is restricted by seasonal ice, with the main navigation window generally running from July to October.
Operators expect to deploy up to eight ice-strengthened vessels on the route this season. The ships will use real-time ice monitoring and adjust their routes to navigate changing weather and ice conditions, according to the company.
Weekly Arctic container service launches from Guangzhou’s Nansha Port to Europe
Ernesto Soberon Guzman, Cuba's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), strongly criticized the United States’ unilateral coercive measures against the island nation during a Security Council's open debate on Wednesday, warning that any "military adventure" against Cuba will trigger immeasurable repercussions.
He denounced the United States for undermining the Security Council's mandate of safeguarding international peace and security through threats of force, interference in other countries' internal affairs and imposition of unilateral coercive measures.
Such moves have severely eroded multilateralism, as well as the credibility and legitimacy of the United Nations, he stressed.
Guzman also pointed out that the US has continuously included Cuba in the list of "state sponsors of terrorism" and imposed a slew of restrictive measures targeting Cuba's strategic sectors covering economy, energy and public health.
The Cuban envoy called on the UN Security Council to fulfill its primary responsibility for maintaining global peace and security as well as issued a stern warning over potential military provocations.
"We issue a warning once again at this meeting. Once a military adventure against Cuba is launched, the consequences will be immeasurable. It will not only affect Cuba and the US, but also jeopardize peace, security, and stability in the Western Hemisphere and even the entire world," he said.
Cuban envoy condemns US sanctions
