Decode China: The smart port

David W. Ferguson, honorary chief English editor at Foreign Languages Press, believes that Zhejiang has done a good job in playing to its geographical strengths. He used several "impressive" in his book China's Development in the New Era - the Zhejiang Experience, recording his visit to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

At the port's Jintang Harbor District, one of its core areas, Ferguson witnessed highly automated operations: 117 unmanned container trucks, 64 fully automated gantry cranes, and 22 remotely controlled bridge cranes-all operating with minimal human presence. Containers were seamlessly transported between ships and trucks, while cargo vessels brimming with global aspirations set sail. The port's role as a pivotal hub for bulk commodity allocation is rapidly expanding.

In 2024, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port achieved a historic cargo throughput of 1.37 billion tons, ranking first globally. Its container throughput reached 39.3 million TEUs, up 11.3 percent year-on-year.

These new benchmarks and transformations showcase Zhejiang's commitment to high-level openness and international engagement.

As the world's largest port, what defines Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's core strengths? Join Ferguson in this edition as he unravels its story.