Regional/ Top News

Twin ports: Key northeastern belt, road junction gets connected

By Ren Jie | China Daily | Updated: 2017-01-22 11:29

An international land port

The other key project on the table for Changchun New Area is an international logistics port, or a land port, with connections across Eurasia.

Set to be the largest railway logistics center in Northeast China, it will be an international, comprehensive link for harbors, railways and roads.

Extending out from Changchun, the comprehensive transport corridor of railways and roads will connect to 31 land ports, 10 airports and harbors throughout the world.

The inland harbor, railway and road connections' advantage is expected to attract many cross-border e-commerce businesses and logistics companies to settle down in the new area. Four railway routes will pass through Changchun.

The main route links Changchun to other big northeastern cities, including Heihe and Harbin in Heilongjiang province, and Shenyang and Dalian in Liaoning province.

This will cross with a line starting in Europe and traveling through Central Asia, Choybalsan in Mongolia, Arshaan in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Baicheng in Jilin province, and Changchun to Rashin port in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The other two lines crossing each other in an 'X', will connect Tongjiang in Heilongjiang with the Tianjin railway line, and Chita in Russia with the Dandong railway in Liaoning.

Located at the center of Changchun New Area, the port will include two rail yards, three specialist centers and six logistics zones. One of the inland railway ports will accumulate goods from northeastern Asian countries, while the other will be a highway freight hub, serving regional needs.

The three centers comprise an international trade services center providing customs clearance and financial services, a logistics research center focused on building a logistics information system and developing internet of things technologies, and a demonstration center that will exhibit imported goods from northeastern Asian countries.

The six logistics zones will provide various services to specific sectors.

The professional logistics zone will serve the automotive, medical and home appliance industries.

The equipment logistics zones will focus on manufacturing goods, and the e-commerce zones will provide services for cross-border e-commerce businesses and traditional e-commerce platforms. Investment invitation projects

The Changchun government will release many investment projects during the construction of the two ports, welcoming overseas and domestic companies to invest in Changchun.

The airport intends to gather airline companies' headquarters in the future by building the required offices, commercial buildings, research and development centers, operational and clearance centers and technical service centers.

Public facilities such as hotels, high-end apartments, hospitals and supermarkets are also included in the plans.

In addition, the new area aims to become a manufacturing base for sectors such as aviation equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The government hopes to attract global aviation equipment manufacturers, including those specializing in design and alternation, via new R&D centers to assist in the production of light fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and special-function airplanes.

A drone manufacturing base will cover the functions of producing unmanned aerial vehicles, spare parts and related accessories. Companies focusing on producing drones, software research and aftersales services will be welcomed to the new area.

At the airport, air command centers, office buildings and air traffic control systems will be built. Terminal buildings, freight centers, parking aprons for helicopters and light aircraft are also expected.