Photo taken on May 7, 2017 shows bridge cranes unloading goods from the merchant vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands and loading goods to the vessel at Port of Piraeus, Greece. It is the 22nd day on the sea for the merchant vessel (M.V.) COSCO Netherlands to complete its voyage from China to Europe on a route known as the Maritime Silk Road. From the Pacific, the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, and from the South China Sea, the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road spans the oceans and extends beyond time and space. Covering a total of 7,878 nautical miles (14,590 km) from China's Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai to the Greek Port of Piraeus in Europe, M.V. COSCO Netherlands has witnessed inter-connectivity, close partnership and win-win cooperation between the two sides on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road from April 16 to May 7. As the largest port in Greece, Piraeus is one of the Top Ten European ports and one of the Top 50 container terminals in the world. Located in Southeast Greece, Piraeus is one of the nearest ports to the main shipping route from the Suez Canal to Gibraltar, and serves as a hub on the west end of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. (Xinhua/Yan Liang)
