A container liner is ready to depart the Jintang port area in Zhoushan to East Africa on March 1. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The Jintang port area in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province launched its first route to East Africa when a container liner departed the Dapukou terminal for East Africa on March 1.

One ship is expected to travel along the weekly route that travels to Singapore, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, as well as China's Shanghai and Zhoushan.

According to Wang Danli from the Zhoushan Yongzhou Container Terminal Co Ltd, which manages the Jintang port area, the plan is to launch five new international routes in the first quarter of this year.

In addition to the East Africa route, another two routes to East Africa, one to Russia, and one to Australia will start their maiden voyage at the beginning of March, added Wang.

The Jintang port area currently houses 21 container routes, all of which are connected to ports of the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.