Chinese shipping beefs up global supply chains

With innovation and improved efficiency, key industry promotes economic expansion, high-quality development

TIANJIN — Cheng Weidong has worked as a trailer driver in Tianjin port for almost three decades. Over the years, the port and his job have changed a lot, with training AI transportation robots newly added to his duties.

"In the past, a skilled trailer driver could only transport a few hundred metric tons of cargo a day. Today, goods from all over the world can be transported, loaded and unloaded much more efficiently owing to the intelligent port construction," Cheng said.

Home to the world's first smart, zero-carbon terminal and a demonstration area of port autonomous driving, Tianjin port maintains shipping trade with more than 500 ports in over 180 countries and regions, and its cargo and container throughput ranks among the global top 10.

Tianjin port is the epitome of China's shipping industry. This dynamic industry is characterized by innovation and improved efficiency, which have helped buoy global industrial chains and promote economic growth.

Connecting world

The Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo 2023 was held from Nov 16 to 18 in North China's Tianjin municipality to promote the development of the global shipping industry and marine economy.

"As we delve into the future of shipping at this influential gathering, we also reflect on the impressive advancements that have positioned China at the forefront of the maritime world," Jin Yu Cheong, head of the Baltic Exchange Asia, said via video link.

The latest issue of the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index Report shows that the Asia-Pacific region's shipping centers have continued to rise over the past decade.

Over the past 10 years, the centers of the international shipping industry have undergone significant changes, with goods, trade and capital gradually moving eastward, said Hayao Gen, president of Fenghai Technology Consulting Services Co Ltd.

Chinese port cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Qingdao now rank among the top international shipping centers, contributing to the stability of the global supply chains, said the port construction expert.

Shanghai port has ranked first in container throughput for 13 consecutive years. By the end of 2022, the number of shipping routes passing through the Port of Ningbo Zhoushan reached 300, including 248 international routes.

"In a rapidly evolving global trade landscape, China's achievements in shipping are paving the way for the future," said Jin.