Recently, the 62,000-ton multipurpose pulp vessel "COSCO SHIPPING Changqing" operated efficiently at Guangzhou Nansha Port. As the inaugural vessel of the officially launched "COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers South America East BRICS Express Weekly Service", after completing the loading of 660 new energy vehicles and container cargo, the vessel departed for South America.

On the same day, the COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers South America East BRICS Express Weekly Service launch event, jointly hosted by COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers and Guangzhou Port Group, was held in Guangzhou. Leaders from relevant authorities including Guangzhou Port Authority, Guangzhou Municipal Commerce Bureau and Guangzhou Customs, along with COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Chairman Zhang Wei, General Manager Huang Nan, Deputy General Manager Zhang Chi, Guangzhou Port Co., Ltd. Deputy General Manager Ma Jinqi, Deputy General Manager Sun Bangcheng and other responsible persons attended the event. Enterprise representatives from GAC, Guangxi Liugong, BYD, etc. were also invited.

It is reported that the COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers South America East ESA route first sailed in September 2023, connecting Guangzhou Nansha Port with such important ports as Brazil's Victoria Port. Starting from this voyage, the ESA route will undergo comprehensive upgrading and optimization: First, the service frequency upgrades from bi-weekly to weekly, ensuring "fast turnover and punctual schedule". COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers has deployed over 40 large multipurpose pulp vessels, including 20 vessels of the 77,000-ton main series and 22 vessels of the 62,000-ton backup series, providing stable capacity support for the South America East BRICS Express Weekly Service. Second, the route's port rotation has been optimized. The route calls at China's basic ports including Qingdao, Taicang, Ningbo and Nansha, as well as Brazil's core ports including Salvador, Victoria and Sepetiba. Cargo can reach major South America East ports in as fast as 30 days, further improving logistics efficiency. Third, the BRICS Express can also handle import cold chain logistics business. The vessel's deck is designed with fixed reefer plugs, safely and efficiently carrying various types of containers. Combined with the nearby "Asia's largest refrigerator" - Nansha International Cold Chain Project, it attracts South American pork, beef, lamb, white shrimp, salmon, squid and other reefer cargo to be distributed through Nansha to citizens' dining tables.

The South America East BRICS Express Service mainly accommodates commercial vehicles and container cargo. COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers' multipurpose fleet is equipped with self-developed collapsible framework containers of different sizes, providing richer logistics solutions for automobile manufacturers in Guangzhou Port's hinterland. Additionally, the BRICS Express vessels have unique advantages in handling oversized cargo such as construction machinery and wind power equipment, perfectly aligning with Nansha Port's strategy to build an oversized cargo and special container logistics hub. This route product will provide more diversified and competitive comprehensive logistics services for Greater Bay Area and inland enterprises "going global" while also providing important support for Latin American countries to expand export trade and promote sustainable economic growth.

Although China and Latin America are geographically distant, their cooperative relationship is very close. Both sides have extensive common interests, strong trade complementarity, and great development potential. They have consistently supported each other over the years. Regardless of changes in international situations and Latin American political landscapes, bilateral trade has maintained high-speed growth, bursting with vigorous vitality. In 2024, China-Latin America trade exceeded $500,000,000,000 for the first time, reaching a historic height. Since 2012, China has steadily remained Latin America's second largest trading partner and been the largest trading partner for Brazil, Chile, Peru and other countries. The ancient poem "Friendship knows no distance; even ten thousand miles feel like neighbors" truly reflects China-Latin America relations.

As a globally leading specialized transportation enterprise, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers has continuously deepened its global shipping network service layout in recent years, facilitating efficient connectivity between China and South America's eastern coast trade, and serving the high-quality development of global advanced manufacturing and bulk commodity industries. In the future, Guangzhou Port Group will deepen port-shipping cooperation with COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers, fully leveraging their respective advantages, seizing market opportunities, and providing diversified and innovative supply chain solutions for customers through optimizing route network layout and innovating product systems, jointly adding new momentum to China-Latin America economic and trade cooperation and making greater contributions to the high-quality development of international port and shipping logistics.  (Text by Chen Deze, photo by COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers)