To establish an international platform for port city exchanges and cooperation, Tianjin hosted the China (Tianjin) World Port City Cooperation Forum on Nov 15. About 150 people including representatives from 12 sister cities of the US, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia came to participate.

The forum focused on port economic transformation and port city development, and aims to provide an exchange and cooperation platform for promoting the modernization of port cities.

Jointly organized by Tianjin Foreign Affairs Office, the Tianjin Development and Reform Commission and the Tianjin Transportation Commission, it is one of the segments of the 2023 Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo scheduled Nov 16-18, aiming to promote development of the shipping industry and marine economy.

Li Wenhai, deputy mayor of Tianjin, said in a keynote speech that port resources are crucial strategic assets and a core advantage for Tianjin. Throughout this year, Tianjin has consistently promoted the "Ten Actions," including the deep integration of ports, industries, and cities. 

The city is committed to expanding the scale of port shipping, strengthening related port industries, and optimizing port service functions, aiming to accelerate the establishment of a northern international shipping core area and a world-class port. He hoped that this forum would serve as a stage for exchanging ideas, a platform for building consensus, and a bridge to facilitate collaboration.

During the forum, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as the relationship between ports and cities, the transformation and upgrading of port economies, and the layout of port cities. They shared their experiences and conveyed their visions for cooperation. 

Attendees emphasized the importance of leveraging the unique resources of each port city, enhancing exchanges and collaboration, promoting further connectivity of people, goods, and capital, and fostering new vitality in urban economies. 

The spokesperson from the Tianjin Municipal Foreign Affairs Office said that strengthening cooperation among global port cities is beneficial for deepening the driving role of port economies. It contributes to fostering comprehensive, multidimensional, and multilevel exchanges and cooperation among port cities, promoting the common development, prosperity, and progress of economies worldwide.

During their stay in Tianjin, participating foreign delegates also visited the China Communications First Harbor Engineering Design and Research Institute (CCCC First Harbor) and the Tianjin Museum. Additionally, they attended the opening ceremony of the 2023 Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo.