State-owned enterprises in Fujian set up joint-venture to build luxury cruise ships
The southeastern Fujian province aspires to build its first luxury cruise ship after the establishment of a Fujian luxury cruise investment company, the first of its kind in the province.
According to an announcement on April 6, the company, established in Xiamen, is a joint venture by three state-owned enterprises headquartered in Fujian – Fujian Shipping Company, Fujian Shipbuilding Industry Group and Fujian Investment & Development Group. Fujian Shipping Company is a subsidiary of Fujian Provincial Communication Transportation Group.
The cruise company plans to build three 70,000-ton luxury vessels in the coming years. Now, they are starting with their first ship.
When asked about the design of the ships, Li Xinghu, chairman of the Fujian Provincial Communication Transportation Group, said that they are conducting surveys to find the most suitable designs and they hope to start the building process within the year. Li also said that one thing is sure: the cruise ships will take on Chinese elements and reflect the Fujian culture.
Chairman of the cruise company Yang Jinchang said that they will operate charted routes to serve tourists' varied, personalized needs.
The ships will be built in Xiamen. The city will also be the departure port for most of the routes.
By Liu Sitong and edited by Peter Nordlinger
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.