The maiden voyage of the Southeast Asia shipping line operated by Ocean Network Express was celebrated on April 20 in Qingdao Port, a branch of Shandong Port Group.

The maiden voyage of the Southeast Asia shipping line operated by Ocean Network Express is celebrated on April 20 in Qingdao Port. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This marked the first Southeast Asian shipping line opened by Ocean Network Express, a Japanese container transportation and shipping company, in Shandong.

The new line will expand Shandong Port Group's connections with Southeast Asia and countries involved in the Belt and Road economic and trade "golden passage" to effectively ensure the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain, according to Shandong Port Group.

It also marked the eighth foreign trade route opened by Shandong Port Group, which now has 310 routes connected to the world.

Staff members of Qingdao Port attend the maiden voyage ceremony of the Southeast Asia shipping line operated by Ocean Network Express on April 20. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The new shipping line is part of Shandong Port Group's efforts to integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as to cooperate with shipping companies to streamline the international shipping channel and help build a new development pattern.

Consolidated in 2019, Shandong Port Group has integrated many of the province's major ports, including Qingdao Port, Yantai Port, Rizhao Port, and the Bohai Bay Port Group, in order to maximize port resources and eliminate regional competition.

Shandong Port Group posted strong performance in the first quarter of this year, setting record highs in cargo throughput, which exceeded 370 million tons, up 9 percent year-on-year, and container throughput, which reached 7.93 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), up 11 percent.