Premier Li Keqiang urged efforts to build Zhejiang into a strategic transfer station for bulk commodities during his inspection tour in the East China province on May 24.

At the latest executive meeting of the State Council, the Premier made arrangements to ensure the supply of big commodities, curb unreasonable price increases and prevent possible transmission to consumer prices.

For his first stop in Zhejiang, Premier Li visited Beilun port of the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Company and heard reports on pricing trends of international bulk commodities at the dock.

Ningbo Zhoushan Port, topping the world’s cargo throughput 12 years in a row, is the country’s largest transfer station for iron ore and crude oil.

Premier Li stressed that the port is China’s earliest modernized port, adding that the country must insist on opening-up, fully make use of both domestic and international markets and resources, and conduct fair and free trade with the world to modernize itself.

He also said small commodities from Zhejiang are well known in the world, and that their production cannot go without the supply of raw materials from bulk commodities.

Noting the continuous price growth of some bulk commodities since the beginning of the year, the Premier extended his hope that Zhejiang, with improved storage and transportation of bulk commodities, can grow into a strategic transfer station for bulk commodities.