By the end of July 2025, China had opened 128 shipping routes under its Silk Road Maritime Transport project, a key initiative supporting the country’s broader Belt and Road cooperation. Launched in December 2018, the project has rapidly grown in scale and significance, enhancing international maritime connectivity.
According to data from Xiamen Customs and China Central Television (CCTV), a total of 20,293 container ships have sailed along these routes to date. The overall cargo throughput has reached an impressive 23.92 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), reflecting the project’s vital role in facilitating global trade.
The Silk Road Maritime Transport initiative functions as an international shipping service platform, connecting China with trade partners across Asia, Africa, and Europe. At the heart of this effort is the Port of Xiamen, located in eastern China’s Fujian Province, which now serves as the departure point for 61 of the active routes.
This development not only highlights China’s growing influence in global logistics but also demonstrates the strategic value of maritime infrastructure in driving economic cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative.
