by Yan Liang, Abdul Meguid
SUEZ CANAL, Egypt, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Seen from the deck of Merchant Vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands, a splendid landscape across the Suez Canal unfolds, with some green tropical plants flourishing against the yellow deserts under the blue sky.
M.V. COSCO Netherlands, a subsidiary of China COSCO Shipping Corp., arrived at its designated anchorage at the Suez Canal late Thursday night, after 10 days of sailing across the Indian Ocean from Singapore. It's now waiting to cross the 194-km-long Egyptian waterway.
Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China in 2013, the Suez Canal has witnessed not only an increasing trade between China and the world, but also an ever-lasting friendship between China and Middle East countries.
A GREAT WATERWAY LINKING THE WORLD
It takes about 12 hours for M.V. COSCO Netherlands to cross the Suez Canal which connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, before it continues its journey to Europe.
Zheng Minghua, the 60-year-old commissar of M.V. COSCO Netherlands, told Xinhua: "We have to wait for the inspection from the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) to cross the canal. It depends on the classification of the ship's cargo."
The Suez Canal is frequently used by modern vessels like M.V. COSCO Netherlands. Tolls paid by the vessels constitute an important source of income for the Egyptian government.
Head of the SCA Economic Unit Sayyid Aboul-Fotouh told Xinhua: "The Chinese containers passing through the Suez Canal represent over 25 percent of all containers trade across the canal, which is extremely important to the Suez Canal."
A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WORLD
The Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at building trade, investment and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, along the ancient trade routes.
The initiative is very important to Egypt and it will play an important role in activating world trade, said Aboul-Fotouh.
According to statistics released by the SCA, a total of 1,524 ships passed through the Suez Canal in March 2017, with an average of 49.2 ships daily, increasing three ships daily from 2016.
In history, the ancient Silk Road witnessed frequent trade and cultural exchanges between the Arab world and China. That partly explains why the Middle East countries are now eager to cooperate with China after the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed.
Mustafa Ibrahim, a 60-year-old small-business owner in Cairo, said the initiative is very important and timely against the backdrop of a sluggish world economy.
"As a businessman, I hope there will be more political stability in the region to push the initiative forward."
Egypt highly values its strategic partnership with China, and Egypt is willing to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative actively, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said last month.
Chinese companies are welcome to invest in Egypt, he added.
According to Aboul-Fotouh, the Belt and Road Initiative carries great significance for all participating countries, as it aims at infrastructure development, especially in the fields of transportation and communication.
The initiative is expected to increase world trade and enhance cooperation between different participants, he concluded.
