QINGDAO has become one of six Chinese ports approved for water and land transportation with South Korea.

    The port is one of 12 cooperative projects planned at a meeting attended by transport ministers from China, South Korea and Japan in 2006.

    According to an agreement signed by China and South Korea, trailers carried by ships can reach each customer directly.

    In the second stage of cooperation, container trucks will be allowed to transport freight overland between the two countries.

    The through transportation by land and water has advantages in transporting fresh farm produce and industrial products, said Gao Hongtao, vice head of the transportation department in Shandong Province.

    This year marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of passenger, cargo and container shipping between China and South Korea.

    The other five through ports are Shandong’s Rizhao, Weihai, Longyan, Yantai and Shidao. South Korean ports are Incheon, Pyeongtaek and Kunsan.

    (Li Hao, Deng Weihua)