Xi Jinping stressed: "We must work together to build, manage and operate Qiankai Port well, continuously improve its transport capacity and improve its comprehensive service level."
On the evening of November 14, local time, President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Boruart attended the opening ceremony of Chancay Port via video at the Presidential Palace in Lima.
Xi Jinping and Boruart listened to the reports of the heads of the two countries' transportation departments and watched the video of the Chancay Port project together.
At the project site, representatives of China and Peru asked the heads of state of the two countries for instructions to open the port. The heads of state of the two countries issued instructions and announced "Open the port!"
Xi Jinping congratulated the smooth opening of Chancay Port and paid tribute to the builders of the two countries for overcoming the difficulties of the epidemic, working together, and completing various tasks with quality and quantity.
The opening ceremony of COSCO Shipping Peru Chancay Terminal
The COSCO SHIPPING Peru vessel unloads the first container from Shanghai to Qiankai
Xi Jinping pointed out that in just a few years, a modern port has sprung up, which is exciting and inspiring. Chancay Port is not only a deep-water port, but also the first smart port and green port in South America. After completion, it will bring rich benefits to Peru, create a large number of employment opportunities, and effectively consolidate Peru's gateway status connecting land and sea, Asia and Latin America.
Xi Jinping said that more than 2,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Chinese nation set sail, crossed the stormy waves, and created the Maritime Silk Road connecting the East and the West. More than 500 years ago, the Peruvian ancestors, the Incas, braved hardships and dangers, crossed mountains and built the Inca Trail that runs through the Andes from north to south. Today's Chancay Port is becoming a new starting point for the "Inca Trail of the New Era".
"From Chancay to Shanghai, we are witnessing not only the Belt and Road Initiative taking root and blossoming in Peru, but also the birth of a new land-sea corridor in the new era." Xi Jinping stressed, "We must work together to build, manage and operate Chancay Port well, continuously improve transportation capacity and capacity, and improve the comprehensive service level. We must actively explore ways to bring logistics through channels, trade through logistics, and industry through trade, adhere to consultation, joint construction and sharing, and enable the common development of Pacific coastal economies including China and Peru, so that it can truly become a road to prosperity and happiness for Peru and even the vast Latin American and Caribbean countries, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in a broader space, and bring more tangible gains and satisfaction to people of all countries." It is understood that Chancay Port is located in the middle of the Peruvian coastline. It is a natural deep-water port with a superior geographical location and convenient logistics connections. The total length of the wharf shoreline is 1,500 meters, with 4 berths, including 2 container berths and 2 multi-purpose berths, which can accommodate the world's largest container ships. The initial annual throughput capacity is designed to be 1 million standard containers, 6 million tons of bulk cargo, and 160,000 vehicles. It is equipped with a yard, warehouse, multi-purpose logistics land, and has a 1.8-kilometer tunnel connected to the Pan-American Highway, which can quickly reach the economic hinterland.
Panoramic view of COSCO Shipping Port of Chancay
Chancay Port is the first green smart port invested by COSCO SHIPPING Group in South America. In 2019, COSCO SHIPPING Ports Co., Ltd. (COSCO SHIPPING Ports), a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Group, officially signed the subscription and investment agreement for the Chancay project in Peru and established COSCO SHIPPING Ports Peru Chancay Company, which is responsible for the investment and operation of the terminal and is committed to building a hub port with the largest berthing capacity and the highest level of modernization in South America.
The equity structure of the project is 60% held by COSCO SHIPPING Ports and 40% held by Chancay Port Investment Public Company.
Peru is one of the fastest-growing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is China's fourth largest trading partner in Latin America. China is Peru's largest trading partner, largest export market and largest source of imports in the world.
It is reported that after the completion of Chancay Port, it will become a first-class hub port on the west coast of South America and a logistics center on the Pacific coast, which can greatly shorten the direct flight time from Peru (and even the Latin American market) to China (and even the Asian market), and promote the deep connection between China and Peru and the two huge markets of Asia and Latin America behind them.
COSCO SHIPPING Group said that the investment in the Chancay Port project in Peru is not only out of confidence in the long-term economic development of Peru and China-Peru trade, but also hopes to contribute to the development of Peru and the friendship between China and Peru.
