Fresh Peruvian bananas made their long-awaited debut in the Chinese market, as the first-ever shipment totaling 19.6 tons arrived via the Chancay-Shanghai shipping route and cleared customs at Yangshan Port on Wednesday, marking a milestone in bilateral agricultural trade.
Opened in late 2024, the route cut sea transit time between China and Peru from 35 to 40 days to just 23 days, reducing logistics costs by more than 20 percent.
"The entire process from entry declaration, on-site inspection, and result assessment to customs clearance is streamlined to minimize clearance time while building a strong security barrier to ensure South American fresh fruits enter the market," said Yu Tianhua, head of the inspection section at Yangshan Customs.
"This batch of bananas came from Peru through the Chancay Port, with a transit time of approximately three weeks. This is indeed faster than other fruits such as Ecuadorian bananas, which take almost a month. The Peruvian bananas entered China tariff-free, which reduces costs for businesses," said customs broker Yan Bin.
The Chancay Port in Peru, a flagship Belt and Road cooperation project between China and Peru, has been a key driver of trade growth. According to Shanghai Customs statistics, the Chancay-Shanghai route handled a cumulative import-export value of 3.35 billion yuan (approximately 470 million U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year surge of 44.7 percent.
Driven by the route's efficiency, Shanghai's total trade value with Peru during the January-July period jumped 31.1 percent from the same period last year, customs data showed.
Peruvian bananas make historic debut in China via Chancay-Shanghai shipping route
A special "Silk Road" film showcase was held in Cairo earlier this week, bringing five acclaimed Chinese films to Egyptian audiences and helping strengthen cultural ties between China and Egypt.
The five Chinese productions featured were the rally comedy Pegasus 3, the space documentary Shenzhou 13, the family drama Dear You, the animated adventure Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector, and the drama The Happiness Train.
The three-day film showcase, organized by China Media Group (CMG), drew Chinese and Egyptian filmmakers and moviegoers to talk about filmmaking and the film industry during the event.
Some Egyptian viewers said they could easily relate to the films' stories, regardless of differences in language or culture, and that the showcase gave them a chance to experience the everyday life and different perspectives from across China.
"Chinese films left a huge impression on me. Seeing China's first live-action space film and its outstanding effects was truly awe-inspiring," said Mustafa, an Egyptian movie- goer.
Since its launch in May 2026, the "Silk Road" film showcase has traveled to several Belt and Road countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, and most recently, Egypt.
Ahmed Badawy, managing director of the Egypt Film Commission, expressed support for the initiative.
"This is the second consecutive year we have hosted a Chinese film festival in Egypt. Last year's films were met with high acclaim and affection from Egyptian audiences. The most important aspect of this event is the cultural exchange between Egypt and China. Film is the art form that best reflects this mutual understanding and helps people learn about each other's customs. I see this as a strong and positive beginning for further exchanges," he said.
Egyptian film professionals also noted the rapid development of Chinese cinema in recent years, particularly in filmmaking technology, storytelling and visual effects. They said the showcase helped them learn more about China's film market and industry.
The event was widely covered by Egyptian media outlets.
Cairo hosts Chinese film showcase
