October 15 - A Chinese vessel has become the millionth vessel to transit the Panama Canal since it was built almost a century ago.

The Hong Kong-flagged Fortune Plum's captain was presented with a plaque and a photo of the vessel as it crossed through the waterway.

Last year, authorities began the Panama Canal's biggest expansion project to add two wider sets of locks that can accommodate wider vessels.

Around 5 percent of the world's maritime trade passes through the canal's locks.