In the first half of this year, the inbound and outbound traffic at the air and water border ports in Jiangsu increased significantly. A total of 13,800 ships and 14,600 flights carrying 2.26 million passengers making inbound and outbound trips were inspected in the province, a year-on-year increase of 1.06%, 113.98%, and 110.22% respectively.

On June 28, Flight MU851 carrying 201 passengers flew from Nanjing Lukou International Airport to Melbourne, Australia, marking the official opening of Jiangsu Province’s first direct passenger route to Melbourne. In the first half of this year, the province opened nine international passenger routes, providing passengers from Jiangsu and its surrounding areas with more options for outbound trips and building a convenient “airborne bridge” to promote economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.

Ports serve as a barometer of economic performance. According to statistics from the Lianyungang Entry-Exit Border Inspection Administration, in the first half of this year, Lianyungang Border Port inspected more than 3,300 inbound and outbound ships and more than 77,000 inbound and outbound people, including 13 400,000-ton ships, setting a record high.

“Inbound and outbound ships saw a steady increase in number, and Made in China exports such as new energy vehicles and wind power blades boomed, showing the vitality of Jiangsu’s export-oriented economy,” said Chen Xiangyun, Director for Border Inspection of Jiangsu Border Inspection Administration.

From January to May this year, Taicang Border Port inspected and discharged 209,000 export vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 31.35%. Among them, 77,000 vehicles were exported to Belt and Road countries, a year-on-year increase of 49.55%. On June 19, under the escort of Taicang Border Inspection police, 4,400 vehicles were loaded on board within 18 hours at Taicang Port.

“The new convenient service measures introduced by the border inspection authorities enabled more than 250 cars to be loaded on board per hour, saving operating costs of more than RMB 30,000 per ship,” said Wang Jue, Deputy General Manager of Haitong (Taicang) Automobile Terminal Corporation Limited.

Since the beginning of this year, Jiangsu Border Inspection Administration has provided services and ensured the opening of new maritime routes from Jiangsu to Russia, United Arab Emirates, Tanzania, Kenya and other Belt and Road countries, providing strong support for smooth supply and industrial chains.