People's Daily client: 1.4 billion tons! How does this super port embrace the world?

The busy container yard and terminal in Meishan Port Area, Zhoushan Port, Ningbo, Zhejiang. Photo by Hu Xuejun

At the beginning of the new year, good news came from the coast of the East China Sea——
In 2025, Ningbo Zhoushan Port will achieve a cargo throughput of over 1.4 billion tons, ranking first in the world for 17 consecutive years and becoming the world's first super port to enter the "1.4 billion tons" level.
Ports are fundamental and hub facilities, and an important support for economic development. Looking back at the growth of this' super port 'provides a new window for observing China today.
Through this new window, we can see the solid steps of China's economy in "pushing forward under pressure and moving towards new excellence".
Port development is based on facilities. In the face of the slowing growth of global maritime trade and the complex and ever-changing geopolitical landscape and trade policies, the key to staying ahead of the trend is to "focus on doing our own things well".
Multiple container terminal upgrading projects are being accelerated to steadily increase throughput and build solid foundations; The expansion project of the waterway has been successfully completed, and the capacity of super large ships has been increased by more than 50%... The comprehensive operational level continues to rise, helping the port's production and transportation to continue to lead. In 2025, the container throughput of Ningbo Zhoushan Port will exceed 40 million TEUs for the first time, surpassing 43 million TEUs and firmly ranking third in the world.
To revitalize traditional industries, transformation and upgrading are important issues. From the beginning to the end of the year, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has achieved a new leap towards becoming a modern and strong port, driven by intelligence and greenness.
In February, the DeepSeek big model was successfully applied for the first time in global port intelligent gates, promoting the entry of intelligent gates into the 4.0 era; In September, the first green methanol refueling business for ships in Zhejiang was launched in Meishan Port Area, and the LNG refueling volume remained among the top three in the country throughout the year... We are determined to move from "new" to "green" and promote the port to become lean, healthy, and improve quality and efficiency.
From one port to one country, the operating mileage of high-speed rail has exceeded 50000 kilometers, firmly ranking first in the world; Humanoid robots are accelerating their landing applications and firmly establishing themselves as the world's largest robot production country; The production and sales of new energy vehicles have exceeded 31 million units, maintaining the world's number one position... Numerous "global firsts" in various industries outline a clear picture of China's economy resisting pressure and breaking through waves.
Through this new window, one can see China's firm determination to open its doors wider and wider.
One port connects the world. The birth of a super port with a capacity of 1.4 billion tons is not only a facade for opening up to the outside world, but also means that it has become an indispensable "key node" connecting domestic and international dual circulation through a dense network and smooth circulation.
A super port with a super strong net behind it——
Looking outward, the global economic and trade arteries are connected by sea freight routes as latitude and longitude. Nowadays, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has over 300 container shipping routes connecting more than 700 ports in over 200 countries and regions worldwide, with an average of nearly 300 delivery ships per day.
Looking inward, with sea rail intermodal transportation as its tentacles, it extends to a wider inland area. At present, Ningbo Zhoushan Port has over 110 sea rail intermodal lines, covering 69 prefecture level cities in 16 provinces (regions, municipalities), with an annual business volume exceeding 2 million TEUs.
Taking the port as the fulcrum, the continuous transformation from "inland depth" to "market depth" and the accelerated transformation from "route opening" to "market opening" continuously leverage the closer linkage between domestic and international markets.
Promote reform through opening up and stimulate stronger development vitality in ports. Ningbo Customs innovates its supervision mode and extends one-stop convenient services to 26 stations across the country; Implement the "Container Shipping Punctuality and Cost Reduction" plan to significantly save costs for shipping companies; The opening of the world's first China Europe Arctic container fast shipping route provides a new option to cope with the uncertainty of traditional shipping routes... Reform and opening up promote each other, helping ports to constantly innovate and play a more important role in serving the construction of a new development pattern.
One port connects the world, linking the ocean and the hinterland, and also linking the present and the future. 1.4 billion tons is a milestone for Ningbo Zhoushan Port, the world's largest port, and to some extent, a new starting point for China's high-level opening-up to the outside world.
Looking at the long coastline of China——
Riding on the east wind of the closure of the entire Hainan Free Trade Port, Yangpu Port has seen frequent shipping and a continuous increase in container volume; Looking westward, with the opening of the Pinglu Canal at the end of next year, Qinzhou Port will become the gateway port of the western land sea new channel... Each port, like an open coordinate, is like a string of beads, together depicting the firm figure of China's opening-up to the outside world.
The road ahead is long and arduous, walking with great strides. We will continue to open our hearts and embrace the world