Representatives of shipping agencies and institutions from around the world gathered in Xiamen last Thursday to attend the annual conference hosted by the Silk Road Maritime shipping company.

Event organizers announced at the conference that 50 ship routes run by the company operated 1,625 voyages in the year through November, notching a combined container throughput of 1.4 million TEU, up 10.4 percent year-on-year.

Officials also announced the opening of ten additional “Silk Road Maritime” shipping routes and the establishment of a Silk Road Maritime alliance including more than 100 shipping and logistics businesses.

The China Cosco Shipping Group joined with the Fujian Communication Transportation Group and the Xiamen Port Holding Group to create the new organization.