China has completed the construction and opened the first deep-water port in South America, Chankai Port, located 80 km from the capital of Peru, Lima. This facility will become a key hub for exporting Chinese goods to the continent and importing natural resources from South America to China.
The opening ceremony was attended by the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, who, as part of a diplomatic tour of South America, emphasized the importance of the port for strengthening economic ties between the regions.
The opening of the port makes it possible to significantly shorten the sea route between Peru and China: from 40 to 23 days. The port, in which 60% of the shares belong to the Chinese state-owned company Cosco Shipping Ports , and 40% to the Peruvian Volcan Compañía Minera , will become one of the most important transport hubs in the region.
At the first stage, the port is capable of handling about 1 million containers per year , providing more than 8,000 jobs. The facility is expected to generate $4.5 billion in annual revenue for Peru, boosting the local economy.
China does not stop there. There are plans to create a large-scale railway network that will connect the port of Changkai with Brazil. This project will not only strengthen the economic integration of the region, but also create a new land route for transporting goods through South America.
Thanks to this infrastructural facility, China is consolidating its role as one of the leading economic partners of Latin American countries, while at the same time strengthening its geopolitical influence in the region.
