On Jan 13, the Port & Shipping Seminar on SPG Container Business for 2023 was held in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. Shandong Port Group (SPG)'s top executives and a total of 15 representatives from the Qingdao branches of major global leading container carriers such as COSCO SHIPPING, Maersk, CMA CGM and Zhonggu Shipping conversed, mapped out their future development plans and discussed ways to promote cooperation, all in a bid to work together to advance the high-quality port and shipping growth.

In 2022, SPG forcefully advanced integrated container operations and accelerated its development into an international shipping hub in Northeast Asia. Benefiting from its integrated container businesses and close cooperation with shipping companies, SPG was widely acknowledged by the market through its solid win-win results. Last year, container companies opened over 30 new shipping routes at SPG, which not only helped it set a new record high in container throughput, but also brought about steady growth in volumes for shipping companies.

Faced with the COVID-19 outbreak, SPG made all-out efforts last year. Port lockdown and congestion were never seen at SPG, which minimized operational loss for shipping companies and ensured vessel reliability. Furthermore, SPG worked together with Customs and other port-related institutions to improve clearance, trying its best to tide over difficult times with shipping companies.

"Shipping companies will not forget SPG's sincere friendship and services," according to a representative from the Maersk (China) Shipping Co Ltd.

"SPG has been a leader in port integration reform, secured outstanding achievements, brought us advanced experience, and offered us good services as usual despite the COVID-19 pandemic. All these points make SPG the best cooperation partner of Maersk," the Maersk representative added.

The seminar has been the sixth port and shipping seminar since the establishment of SPG on Aug 6, 2019, which has not only deepened friendship between SPG and shipping companies, but also forged a platform for laying out a blueprint for future development.

During the seminar, shipping companies engaged in a lively debate focusing on "empty container repositioning", "sea-rail combined transportation" and other hot issues, and expressed their strong wish to strengthen collaboration with SPG.

Liu Xuegang, general manager of North China CMA CGM (China) Shipping Co Ltd, Qingdao Branch, said that CMA CGM has been expanding its proportion of railway transport in land transport, which has highly dovetailed with SPG's development, and it is his hope that CMA CGM can take a greater part in SPG's sea-rail combined transportation business.

In 2023, SPG is bound to seize the significant opportunities presented by the establishment of a unified national market, consistently improve its modern shipping comprehensive service system and accelerate its pace in becoming an international hub port in Northeast Asia. Efforts will also be made to join hands with shipping companies to smooth out the global industrial and supply chains.

On Jan 13, the Port & Shipping Seminar on SPG Container Business for 2023 is held in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.c