鲸波浩渺,江海相通,600多年前,中国明代著名航海家郑和七次远洋航海,将古代海上丝绸之路推向盛时。在这条已知的最古老的海上航线上,中国与世界浪漫相遇。广州、泉州、马六甲,瓷器、茶叶、香料……樯桅如林、千帆竞波,商贾云集,一派繁华。一篇又一篇东西交融、和合共生的佳话传诵至今。
2013年10月,中方提出共建21世纪海上丝绸之路的重大倡议,为中外交流的大通道注入更多强劲动力。曾陷入经营困境的希腊比雷埃夫斯港,在共建“一带一路”倡议带动下重现生机,年货物吞吐量增至500万标箱以上;从海上崛起的高端产业新城斯里兰卡科伦坡港口城,不仅为当地持续创造大量优质就业岗位,也将成为连接东南亚等地区的重要经济纽带,让印度洋上的“明珠”再度焕发出夺目光彩……
十年来,至少66个国家和地区与中国签署了70个双边和区域海运协定,合作共赢硕果累累,海丝“朋友圈”持续壮大,深厚情谊绵延不绝。云帆高张,昼夜星驰,穿越无限蔚蓝,中国与世界一道,聆听新时代的澎湃涛声。(甘甜)
Rivers and seas connect with each other in the vast ocean. More than 600 years ago, Zheng He, the legendary Chinese navigator of the Ming Dynasty(1368–1644), made seven maritime voyages to the Western Seas, bringing the ancient Maritime Silk Road into its prime。
On this thousands-year-old sea route, China has a romantic encounter with the world. Trading ports Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Ningbo, and Malacca witnessed the bustling businesses of merchant vessels from different countries, shipping China's silk, porcelain, and tea leaves to the world market, narrating the story of an integrated, coexisting East and West。
In October 2013, China raised the initiative of jointly building the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, which has injected a strong impetus into the major channel of communication between itself and foreign countries。
Located at the shore of the Mediterranean, Port of Piraeus in Greece was once caught in trouble. But thanks to Belt and Road cooperation, the port has regained prosperity, exceeding an annual handling capacity of 5 million TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) containers。
Colombo Port City in Sri Lanka is a new high-end industrial city by the sea. It has not only created high-quality jobs for locals, but also serves as a significant economic link connecting Southeast Asia and other regions, bringing back the dazzling glamor to the old "Shining Pearl of the Indian Ocean."
Over the past decade, at least 66 countries and regions now have signed 70 bilateral and regional maritime agreements with China. Win-win cooperation has been fruitful along the BRI routes, the circle of friends along the Maritime Silk Road continues to expand, and the deep friendship sustains。
Setting the sails high, crossing the vast ocean, and heading for global destinations, China is working with other countries to echo with the towering sound of the new era. (Gan Tian, Xue Lingqiao)