Xi Jinping started his South-American trip by opening a huge sea-port in Peru (a $1‚3-billion mega-project that shows Chinaʼs growing power in the region)
The deep-water Chancay port located 80-km north of Lima has 15 berths and its gonna be a key-point in modern trade routes. Xi and Peruvian leader Dina Boluarte joined port opening through video-link and made their free-trade deal even better
The Chancay project marks successful start of 21st century maritime Silk Road connecting the Great Inca Trail
The port will create 8‚000 work places and bring $4‚5-billion each year; its also gonna cut shipping costs between Peru and China by 20%. The first cargo ship with Peruʼs fruits will start its journey to China next week
The project built by Cosco Shipping aims to connect Brazilʼs exports with Asian markets - theres plans for a new $3‚5-billion railway to move stuff like soybeans. Mario Ocharan from local Chamber of Commerce says Brazil is the main target for this mega-port
Some U.S officials dont like this project: former Southern Command chief Laura Richardson thinks China might use port for its navy ships and spy stuff. But Chinese media says its just business - no politics here
- Peru sees China as top trading friend now
- Many Chinese business-people came with Xi to Peru
- Port can work with biggest ships in the world
- Less stops means cheaper shipping costs
The port shows how China makes its trade routes better and gets more influence in places that used to be U.S backyard