MACAO - Macao's Taipa Ferry Terminal was launched Thursday to become one of the largest ferry terminals in Asia.

The new terminal, to be put into use on June 1, is located at Macao's Taipa District and adjacent to Macao International Airport. It covers an area of 200,000 square kilometers, and boasts of 16 ferry berths and 127 passenger passways.

Tourists can take the ferries to Hong Kong and Shenzhen within one hour.

The new terminal will provide passengers with improved facilities and service, and is expected to enhance Macao's tourists reception capacity and uplift its marine port service, said Wong Soi Man, director of the Macao Marine and Water Bureau, at the opening ceremony.

Macao's Taipa Ferry Terminal, along with Macao's Outer Harbor Ferry Termina, serve as important gateway for Macao citizens and tourists, Wong said.

He said that the new terminal, if connected with the airport and the light railway network, will strengthen Macao's connections with other cities in the Pearl River delta of South China, as well as the rest of the world.

The project is meaning a lot for Macao as it is one of the largest projects in the city, and also one of the largest ferry terminals in Asia.

It is hoped that the project will help Macao incorporate into the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, said Wang Wei, director general manager of Zhen Hwa Harbor Construction Company.