Vessel GFL NINGBO berths at Ningbo Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

A vessel named GFL NINGBO departed from Ningbo Zhoushan Port for Vladivostok, Russia on Aug 16.

The ship was loaded with commodities including daily necessities, electrical appliances, shoes and hats from cities like Ningbo, Wenzhou, Taizhou and Yiwu, in East China's Zhejiang province.

The voyage, which is expected to last four to five days, marked the opening of the direct shipping route linking Ningbo with Vladivostok. The route will operate every other Monday.

The route's opening will bring more business opportunities to foreign trade enterprises in Ningbo as well as its surrounding areas and help Ningbo Zhoushan Port expand its presence in provinces including Hunan and Fujian, according to industry insiders.

In addition, the route will boost business links between China and Russia, and provide a new trade channel to strengthen connectivity among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, said Hu Wei, general manager of the route's operating company.

In 2021, Ningbo Zhoushan Port handled 1.22 billion metric tons of cargo, up 4.4 percent year-on-year and topping the global rankings for the 13th straight year. The port's container throughput reached 31.08 million TEUs, up 8.2 percent year-on-year, and was ranked third in the world.