Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2025-11-28 08:29Core Insights - The "Shipping Zhejiang" initiative aims to reduce logistics costs and promote high-quality development of inland shipping in Zhejiang Province, with a focus on the year 2025 as a starting point for construction [1][3] - The province has developed a comprehensive inland waterway network plan, including 1,400 kilometers of secondary waterways, to support project implementation and funding acquisition [1][3] - The initiative emphasizes the importance of inland shipping in enhancing domestic circulation and supporting international trade, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and lower carbon emissions compared to road and rail transport [3][4] Summary by Sections Shipping Development - A high-level meeting was held on November 27 to promote the "Shipping Zhejiang" initiative, focusing on reducing logistics costs and enhancing inland shipping [1] - The plan includes the construction of a waterway network with a layout of "five verticals, eight horizontals, and ten trunks" [1][3] Economic Impact - Inland water transport costs are significantly lower, at only 1/7 of road transport and 1/3 of rail transport, providing substantial benefits for exports from regions like Yiwu and Shaoxing [3] - The carbon emissions from water transport are also much lower, at 1/6 of road transport and 2/3 of rail transport, contributing to environmental goals [3] Investment and Growth - In the first ten months of the year, Zhejiang's water transport investment reached 33.82 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 16.1% [4] - The inland ports handled a total cargo throughput of 360 million tons, up 9.3% year-on-year, with container throughput increasing by 14% [4] Trade Dynamics - Zhejiang's trade with ASEAN has surpassed that with the EU, with a total import-export value of 710.61 billion yuan, marking a 16.2% increase [13] - The province's exports of electric vehicles to ASEAN have surged by 195%, indicating a growing market for Zhejiang's manufacturing [13]