Inland water transportation project in Shandong to reopen

A ceremony to mark the reopening of the Xiaoqing River was held in Jinan on May 23, local media reported.

The event was organized by the Shandong Provincial Department of Transportation and the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration to showcase the progress of the project, introduce related policies and build a communication platform for stakeholders.

As one of the major rivers located in the central area of East China's Shandong province, the Xiaoqing River originates from the springs in the city of Jinan, the provincial capital.

Over 200 representatives from transport and logistics enterprises, research institutions, universities and media outlets attended the event, during which several companies signed cooperation agreements with Shandong Marine-River Port Co.

Xiaoqing River was excavated from 1130 to 1137 for the purpose of transporting salt. Operations on the river were then suspended in 1997 before the Shandong provincial government decided to reopen the waterway in 2020 as part of its efforts to construct a comprehensive transportation system.

The reopening of the 169-kilometer river is estimated to cost 13.6 billion yuan ($1.93 billion) and will be completed by the end of June.

The river, which will be able to accommodate 2,000-metric ton vessels, is expected to boost the local economy and provide infrastructure support for inland cities such as Jinan and Zibo to develop maritime industries.

The river will also create new opportunities for production, innovation, logistics and trade in the region and reduce transportation costs.