The China-Europe Railway Express (Xiamen) launched in 2015 has helped boost the development of cross-border logistics in the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. [Photo by Wei Peiquan/Xinhua] 

The China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in East China's Fujian has witnessed strong growth in trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries over the past five years, local media reported on April 27.

Fujian, positioned as a core area of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, has always been at the forefront of the country's opening-up.

The Fujian FTZ, located in East China's Fujian province, was officially launched in April 2015 after being approved by the State Council. It covers a total area of 118.04 square kilometers and is composed of three major areas: the Pingtan Area, the Xiamen Area, and the Fuzhou Area. It has grown into an important platform for deepening economic and trade cooperation with countries and regions involved in the BRI.

Xiamen Port in the Fujian FTZ also has been playing an important role in promoting cooperation and exchange between Fujian and BRI countries and regions.

Since mid-March, Xiamen Port has received three of the world's biggest container ships, which has helped industrial production and business operations of the Silk Road Maritime project return to normal.

According to statistics released by the Xiamen Port Holding Group, the container throughput of the Maritime Silk Road project totaled 437,500 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the first quarter of this year, growing by 4.87 percent year-on-year.

The Maritime Silk Road project provides international logistics services for BRI countries. Launched by Fujian province on Dec 12, 2018, the project has opened 60 routes covering 27 countries, and has provided about 2,100 shipping services in the past year.

The China-Europe Railway Express (Xiamen) launched in 2015 has also helped boost the development of cross-border logistics. The Fujian FTZ has opened three international freight trunk lines to 12 countries in Europe, Central Asia and Russia, helping integrate resources along both the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road.