The 2018 Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum (MPF) wrapped up in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 14.

As a professional port and shipping forum, MPF was dedicated to building a platform that promotes communication and cooperation for the port and shipping ecosystem.

A total of 170 organizations and logistics representatives from over 40 countries of the Belt and the Road region gathered at the two-day forum, to facilitate exchanges and explore business opportunities in port development.

"Port connectivity plays a key role in the development of a modern logistics chain," said Santiago Mila, deputy executive director at the Port of Barcelona, adding that China's opening-up provides a great opportunity for the cooperation of ports along the Silk Road.

Li Tianbi, director of Water Carriage Division of Ministry of Transport, said that China should strengthen communication and information exchanges with neighboring countries while working on the construction of its maritime infrastructure.

During the forum, Zhejiang Seaport Group, one of China's largest port operators, signed a friendly cooperation agreement with Luka Koper d.d., a port and logistics services provider in the port of Koper in Slovenia, with the aim to bolster bilateral trade between Zhejiang and Slovenia.

The signing ceremony between Zhejiang Seaport Group and Luka Koper d.d. is held at the 2018 Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum (MPF) in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 14. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]