The 2nd Development Forum of Sea-rail Combined Transportation and 2023 RCEP Trade and Global Logistics Seminar kicked off in Qingdao on Feb 28, and was hosted by the China Communications and Transportation of Association, Shandong Transportation Department and Shandong Port Group (SPG). The event aimed at promoting the high-quality development of multi-modal transportation, with sea-rail combined transportation being the main focus to improve the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and regional logistics services.

In recent years, as China has implemented the strategic goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, multi-modal transportation and sea-rail combined transportation have become a significant backbone for China's move to build itself into a country with a strong transportation network and develop a comprehensive transportation network. It is also a significant measure for the country to adjust its transportation structure, lower costs and increase profits in the logistics sector.

Since its establishment on Aug 6, 2019, SPG has set its goal of moving faster to become a world-class sea port operator, and accomplish swift and steady progress in its transformative and high-quality growth. In 2022, SPG's overall cargo throughput exceeded 1.6 billion metric tons and its container volume surpassed 37 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), ranking first and third globally, respectively. SPG has fully leveraged its role as a pivotal platform and secured a sound performance in sea-rail combined transportation. Currently, SPG has opened 327 container routes, ranking first in northern China for route number and density. It has also launched 82 freight train routes and set up 32 inland ports to create an efficient and convenient logistics corridor for import and export enterprises to expand in overseas markets. Last year, SPG's sea-rail combined transportation exceeded three million TEUs, ranking first among China's coastal ports for the past years.

SPG has also played an active role in integrating into the national comprehensive multi-modal transportation network, with sea-rail combined transportation as its core, and achieved outstanding achievements in the construction of the sea-rail combined transportation network. It has actively coordinated railway stations to cut down railway freight rates, which has effectively lowered the logistics costs for import and export companies. Efforts have also been made to introduce a new handling mode for inbound and outbound products that are transported to and from ports via rail.   

Going forward, SPG plans to work together with railways, customs departments and other port-related institutions to comprehensively promote the rapid integration of "sea-rail combined transport + industry". It intends to take advantage of the reopening of the Xiaoqing River in Jinan to accelerate the sea-rail combined transport, sea-river combined transport and container multimodal transport, as part of its efforts to become an efficient shipping outlet and a gateway for resource circulation. The overall aim is to make greater contributions to achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and serve the new development pattern.

The 2nd Development Forum of Sea-rail Combined Transportation and 2023 RCEP Trade and Global Logistics Seminar kicks off in Qingdao on Feb 28. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]