The Ambassador of China to Libya, Ma Xue Liang, Belgasem Hafter, Director General of the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund, and the Mayor of Benghazi participated in the inauguration ceremony of COSCO's direct shipping line between China and the city of Benghazi today, marking the arrival of the first cargo ship on this new trade route.

Benghazi’s return as a strategic centre and gateway for trade
In his address, Hafter emphasized that this step represents not merely the launch of a shipping line, but a strategic milestone reflecting Benghazi's return to its natural position as a vital centre for trade and the economy, and a key gateway for supply and reconstruction efforts.

This inaugural voyage on the new route, one of the world's largest maritime shipping lines, directly connects East Asian ports to Benghazi without intermediaries.

Strengthening Julyana Free Zone’s position as a regional transit hub
This includes Benghazi’s Julyana Free Port, enabling it to serve as a major hub for transit and re-export goods destined for Mediterranean ports and African countries, thus strengthening its position as a regional logistics centre.

Plans to increase the shipping service
Mustafa Al-Salak, the shipping agent for COSCO shipping line and director of the Benghazi branch of Seas of the World Company, explained that the new shipping line provides a direct service for transporting goods from ports in China and Korea to Benghazi without intermediaries, with two trips per month, and plans to increase this to four trips per month in the future, or one trip per week.

He pointed out that the line contributes to reducing time and costs and enhances the position of the Julyana Free Zone as a regional hub for transit and re-export, in addition to supporting local trade.

He added that the regular shipping line will positively impact the prices of imported goods and provide new opportunities for investment and commercial transport in Libya.

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