The container throughput of Xiamen Port in East China's Fujian province experienced significant growth in the first two months of the year. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

The container throughput of Xiamen Port in East China's Fujian province experienced significant growth in the first two months of the year, increasing by 16.62 percent year-on-year to 1.82 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), according to a local news report.

"The achievements made by the port were due to the local government's efforts in optimizing the business environment of the port," according to Wu Shunbin, head of the Xiamen Port Authority.

Wu added that the port is expected to achieve a total container throughput of 12 million TEUs this year, up 5.2 percent year-on-year, while its cargo throughput will expand by 3.9 percent year-on-year to 215 million metric tons.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Xiamen Port will leverage the combined strengths of the international shipping center and continue exploring new approaches to shoulder its responsibilities in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xiamen will also push forward the construction of a world-class port in the next five years, according to Wu.

Efforts will be made to promote the digital transformation and upgrading of the port, and accelerate the integrated development of the port and the city.

Wu said that under China's new dual-circulation development paradigm, Xiamen Port will beef up efforts to promote the logistics business of the BRI and speed up rail-sea combined transport development.