Exploring Green and Intelligent Development at the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum
The 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum commenced on Tuesday in Ningbo, a prominent port city located in China's Zhejiang Province. The event gathered senior port executives, industry experts, and scholars from over 40 countries and regions, aiming to foster discussions on green and intelligent practices within the port sector. Under the theme "Go Green, Go Intelligent," the forum's primary objective was to explore strategies for advancing low-carbon initiatives through the implementation of green technologies.
Adopting such technologies is crucial for enhancing the resilience of supply chains, particularly in the face of numerous global challenges that affect international trade. He Jianzhong, president of the China Institute of Navigation, emphasized the importance of sustainable development in the port shipping industry during his keynote speech. He underlined the need for the industry to adopt green practices, pursue digital transformation, and enhance connectivity to promote comprehensive industrial development.
A key highlight of the forum was the insights shared by Anne-Sophie Zerlang Karlsen, head of Maersk's Asia-Pacific operations. She remarked on the shipping industry's significant transition in recent years, where data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) have been leveraged to perform real-time analyses of large datasets. These innovations have resulted in reduced operational costs and energy consumption while improving the reliability of cargo deliveries. Through such advancements, companies have experienced enhanced overall supply chain efficiency.
The forum also spotlighted the Ningbo Zhoushan Port, which stands as the globe's largest port by cargo throughput and ranks third in container throughput. Tao Chengbo, chairman of both the Zhejiang Seaport Group and the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group, presented the port's ongoing efforts to transition towards sustainable operations. The port is implementing a transformative approach centered on three core systems: achieving net-zero emissions, utilizing digital intelligence in operations, and offering comprehensive logistics services. This initiative is set to propel the global port shipping industry into a new sustainable era.
Furthermore, Jens Meier, president of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and CEO of Hamburg Port Authority, accentuated the vital role of global collaboration exemplified by the forum. He noted that this platform allows stakeholders from around the world to unite and tackle shared challenges. The forum has thus facilitated the establishment of collaborative agreements, including significant partnerships between Ningbo Zhoushan Port and ports in Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven, and Valencia.
To ensure varied engagements, the forum included six thematic discussions focused on key sub-sectors such as full logistics, smart shipping, port-city integration, and navigation safety. The gathering was not only significant for fostering international cooperative endeavors but also for releasing consensus documents and multiple reports aimed at guiding future sustainable initiatives. As the maritime industry continues to evolve, forums like this play an essential role in aligning global strategies towards sustainable development and intelligent practices, fostering resilience and growth in an interconnected world.
In summary, the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum served as a pivotal occasion for industry leaders to formalize and share their visions for a sustainable and technologically advanced future in maritime operations. By embracing green initiatives and technology-driven practices, the port shipping industry can ensure its viability and relevance in the ever-changing global landscape.