Ryukyu Shimpo wrote that Matson, an American owned and operated transportation services company, held a reception at a Naha hotel on Tuesday to celebrate its launch in September 2017 of a new weekly service to the port of Naha as part of its expedited China-Long Beach express service. Representatives of local companies and the port transport industry participated in the event. Matson’s President and CEO Matthew Cox reportedly told the reception that the company has long striven to add Naha as a new port of call and will construct cooperative relationships with local people to contribute to the economic development of the region. Senior Vice President Vic Angoco reportedly said at the reception that senior company executives’ attendance at the event demonstrates Matson’s resolve to make a commitment to the development of the island prefecture.