Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka toured 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 of establishing Fiji as the Pacific hub through enhanced efficiency and capacity at Fiji’s ports.
Xiamen Port, overseen by these facilities, is one of China’s most important coastal ports and ranks among the top twenty most efficient ports globally. It serves as a crucial node in China’s transportation network, featuring a large digitalized container port, a home port for cruise ships, and a trade port across the Taiwan Strait.
Upon arrival, Prime Minister Rabuka and his team were given an extensive overview of Xiamen Port’s daily operations. Mr. Xia Changwer, director general of the Xiamen Port Authority, greeted the Fijian delegation and highlighted that the port encompasses multiple terminals, including those for bulk cargo, containers, and specialized oil and gas facilities.
The port’s infrastructure, equipped with state-of-the-art container handling technology and efficient customs procedures that enable rapid turnaround times, showcases Xiamen’s advancements in technology.
Xiamen Port plays a key role in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which promotes foreign investment and trade through connections to vital international shipping routes and free trade zones.
Mr. Changwer expressed Xiamen’s openness to strengthen collaboration with Fiji, particularly in the cruise liner industry and other mutual interests.
After the visit, Prime Minister Rabuka expressed his admiration for Xiamen and emphasized Fiji’s eagerness to adopt best practices to boost its maritime trade and logistics on both regional and global scales.
The Fijian government is continuing to invest in infrastructure improvements to enhance port services such as container handling and storage, customs processing, and support for maritime industries.