Opening of Peru's Chancay Port to bring Asia, Latin America closer, more benefits

The Chancay Port is not only an epitome of the bilateral ties between China and Peru, but also a gateway to connect Asia with Latin America, benefiting the two sides of the Pacific Ocean and bringing them closer, said people from the media sector and business community.

With Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte witnessing the opening of the Chancay Port. "From Chancay to Shanghai," this expression has finally become a reality.

Xi paid a state visit to Peru and attended the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima from Nov. 13 to 17.

The opening of the milestone project, which was built by Chinese companies, is one of the most significant moves during Xi's visit in Peru.

Located some 80 kilometers north of the capital Lima, the Chancay Port was anticipated by Peru for decades. The lack of mega ports in the past brought limits to the trade between Asia and Latin America — transit time could cost months. But the Chancay Port reduces transit time between China and Peru to only 23 days. The construction of the first phase of the project is poised to generate over 8,000 jobs and 4.5 billion U.S. dollars in annual revenue for Peru.

"Our people now have possibilities to sell our products in the Asia-Pacific. This is amazing because we are able to send beautiful things -- coffee, cocao, avocados -- a lot of stuff that I think you'll like it," said Cynthia Malpartida, journalist of TV Peru.

People from the business community said that Chancay Port increases the exchange of goods, facilitating the trade between APEC economies.

"It's not efficient that empty containers are coming to Peru. The opening of the Chancay Port will facilitate the exchange of goods from both sides. The products from the two continents can supplement each other's demands," said Sun Xiao, secretary general of the China Chamber of International Commerce.

"Chancay will be an open door for our commerce to the Asia Pacific region, not only China. We have to remember that APEC, there are 21 economies, not only Peru, not only China," said Jose Tam Perez, president of the Peruvian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

"Chancay Port is going to change everything in South America. So, we are in the best position to be the beneficiary of this increase in all commerce," said Felipe James Callao, president of the National Society of Industries in Peru.

Opening of Peru's Chancay Port to bring Asia, Latin America closer, more benefits

China's development achievements are worth learning by Brazil as the country was still quite poor and backward a few decades ago, but it now becomes the second largest economy in the world, said two Brazil youths.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Brazil, a Brazilian youth delegation was invited to embark on a 15-day visit to central China's Hubei Province in early July this year.

During the visit, they toured the iconic Yellow Crane Tower in the provincial capital Wuhan, the city's East Lake, the Three Gorges Dam - the world's largest hydropower project located on the upper stream of China's longest river Yangtze River, and the Wudang Mountains to learn martial arts and tea ceremony.

The Chinese people's hospitality and tolerance left a deep impression on Ha Lanjie and Li Fenglan, two members of the delegation.

In a recent interview with China Media Group, Ha, a university student, recalled her China trip, saying she still misses the extremely convenient online shopping experience there.

"I brought back many Chinese goods. We began to know the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo while we were in China, and we bought many things. I still miss the convenience and practicability of online shopping in China as the products are quite cheap and delivered very fast," said Ha. Li, a practicing lawyer, cares more about China's economic miracle and what Brazil can learn from the Chinese experience.

"China has improved the livelihoods of the majority of its people in just a few decades. I think this is worth our careful study," said Li.

According to the statistics of the Brazil-China Entrepreneurs Committee, China invested a total of 70.3 billion U.S. dollars in Brazil from 2007 to 2021, involving 202 projects. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume reached 181.5 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 6.1 percent year on year.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and pay a state visit to Brazil from Nov. 17 to 21 at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the two countries are set to deepen their exchanges and cooperation.

Chinese development achievements worth learning by Brazil: Brazilian youths