Despite being separated by vast oceans and thousands of years, the ancient civilizations of China and Peru share a profound connection - a deep respect for the natural world.
In Lima, the Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca ceremonial site, stands as a testament to this ancient reverence. Built 1,500 years ago to honor the Apu, or "God of the Sea," it reveals the importance of the ocean to early cultures.
"I think most cultures are connected to nature, especially true for Lima culture located just two kilometers from the sea. Symbols like the shark are prominent in the rituals. They would strike the shark's head with a stone to break the vessel as an offering," said Gladys Paz Flores, archeologist.
This reverence for nature echoes across the Pacific to the ancient Shu people of southwest China. In Chengdu City, once the heart of the ancient Shu kingdom, the Jinsha archaeological site reveals intricate artwork and rituals dedicated to nature.
"The Sun and Immortal Birds [is] a powerful symbol of sun worship. Similarly, in Peru, Inca rulers called themselves 'descendants of the sun' and built temples in its honor. It's magical," said Wang Fang, deputy director of Jinsha Site Museum.
For the first time, that magic is being shared with Peru at a joint exhibition, where some selected artifacts from the ancient Shu civilization, dating back over 4,000 years, are displayed at the Inca Museum in Cusco, in southeastern Peru.
The connection to nature continues to resonate in Peru today. Clara Suyo from Peru's southern basin is proud to showcase her heritage at the APEC 2024, which is underway in Peru.
"This textile reflects the songs of journeys along the riverbanks. Our textiles are passed down from the Inca times. They're deeply connected to Pachamama, our Mother Earth," she said.
Ancient civilizations of China, Peru share deep reverence for nature
Many Chinese logistics companies are ramping up their shipments for the U.S. market following the latest round of mutual tariff adjustments between China and the United States.
China and the United States announced in Geneva on Monday a series of tariff modification measures aimed at easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.
The decision followed a two-day China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs, where both sides recognized the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relationship to both countries and the global economy, a joint statement said, noting that both sides emphasized the need for a sustainable, long-term and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship.
The latest measures have driven up the businesses of shipping companies in Shenzhen City, in south China's Guangdong Province.
In a freight forwarding company in Shenzhen, the manager said that U.S. clients are experiencing shortages of supplies and are pressuring them to expedite shipments on the next available vessels. The staff members are busy organizing export release documents, with stacks of paperwork for shipments to ports in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago.
"Since the afternoon of May 12, our shipment volume has increased by 40 percent. By June, it should at least be doubled compared to now," said Fu Shengying, deputy general manager of Guangdong Branch of WorldEx Group.
Fuwei Community in Bao'an District, Shenzhen, is an important hub for cross-border e-commerce logistics. Recent data shows that the average daily export shipment volume here has increased by 14 percent over the past three days compared to May 11.
In another logistics company specializing in cross-border e-commerce, orders from U.S. clients have also surged. According to the company, these clients are facing low inventory and need to restock immediately. Over the past few days, the company has received more orders than during the same period in the previous years.
The company manager noted that the surge in order volume has led to increased demand for container ships. Consequently, some shipping companies are starting to adjust their capacity allocation on a global scale.
"Many shipowners had previously adjusted their capacity, but now that a large volume of cargo is suddenly coming in, there is a shortage of capacity. Consequently, freight rates are rising rapidly. Despite this, many clients are still very eager to ship their goods," said Luo Rong, general manager of Shenzhen Branch of Dewell Group.
Yantian Port in Shenzhen is the busiest shipping hub in South China for routes between China and the United States, handling over a quarter of the country's exports to the United States. To meet the surge in demand from U.S. clients, Yantian Port is now scheduling six daily sailings to the United States.
The port staff said that they have recently received inquiries from several shipping companies and are coordinating berth arrangements and schedules. They are prioritizing vessels for U.S. routes at Yantian Port.
Summer is the traditional Christmas ordering season in the United States, and due to previous export suspensions, American sellers' inventories have been declining and urgently need restocking. As a result, demand for Chinese goods is expected to keep rising in the near future.
Chinese logistics enterprises ramp up shipments after China-US tariff adjustment
