A container ship loaded with goods docks at Jiaxing Port in Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo provided by Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co]

East China's Zhejiang province is speeding up trade with Southeast Asia.

Three upgraded express routes have been launched within the past month, with the latest "Jiaxing-Ningbo-Wenzhou-Manila" line cutting transit time by 2 to 3 days, directly linking North Zhejiang to Manila.

Ningbo Ocean Shipping Co — Zhejiang province's largest container liner company — launched an upgrade to its Southeast Asia routes on April 18.

The company has split its previous circular route — Zhapu (Jiaxing)–Ningbo–Ho Chi Minh–Laem Chabang–Bangkok–Zhapu — into two streamlined international lines. The newly created "Zhapu–Ningbo–Ho Chi Minh" and "Zhapu–Ningbo–Laem Chabang–Bangkok–Sihanoukville" routes are designed for faster and more direct service.

This expansion not only fills a gap in the company's Southeast Asian network but also enhances connectivity between Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and key ports in Thailand and Cambodia, reinforcing industrial cooperation between China and ASEAN markets.

The upgraded routes will also benefit Zhejiang's growing tropical fruit import business. Ningbo Ocean Shipping holds exclusive rights to operate direct import services from Southeast Asia to Jiaxing Port.