Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka visited the Silk Road Maritime Management Center and the Xiamen International Shipping Science Innovation Center in Xiamen, Fujian Province, yesterday. This visit aligns with his goal to establish Fiji as a central hub in the Pacific by enhancing the operational efficiency and capacity of its ports.
Xiamen port, which is one of China’s most prominent coastal ports, ranks among the top twenty ports globally. It serves as a crucial part of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, featuring a large digitalized container port, a home port for cruise ships, and a significant trade port across the Taiwan Strait.
Upon their arrival, Prime Minister Rabuka and his team received a comprehensive overview of the daily operations at Xiamen Port. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Mr. Xia Changwer, director general of the Xiamen Port Authority, who highlighted the port’s multiple terminals, including those for bulk cargo, containers, and specialized facilities for oil and gas.
Xiamen’s modern infrastructure showcases advanced container handling equipment and efficient customs procedures, enabling rapid turnaround times. The port plays a crucial role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which fosters international investment and trade, with extensive connections to major shipping lanes and free trade zones.
Mr. Changwer expressed openness to enhancing collaboration with Fiji, particularly in the cruise shipping sector and other research areas of mutual interest. Following the insightful visit, Prime Minister Rabuka praised Xiamen and emphasized Fiji’s eagerness to adopt its practices to further its maritime trade and improve regional and global logistics.
The Fijian government continues to invest in infrastructure improvements to enhance port services such as container handling, storage, customs processing, and support for maritime industries.