Xinhua News Agency, Ningbo, November 5th Reporter's Notes｜When the bridge is lifted and lowered, I can see the open appearance
Xinhua News Agency reporters Sui Lixi and Xu Shunda
A situational dialogue event called "2026 World Mayors Dialogue·Ningbo" was recently held in Meishan Port Area of Zhoushan Port, Ningbo. Behind the guests, freighters were berthed, containers were spread out layer by layer along the yard, bridge cranes stretched their long arms, and driverless trucks shuttled between them. The wind comes from the sea, and the topic also starts from the sea: In the current world changes, how can port cities integrate with each other?
“This is one of the most modern ports in the world, and the autonomous equipment such as driverless cars in the port area is impressive. We hope to replicate these experiences in the Cotonou Autonomous Port.” Romulus Agbejecu, special representative of the mayor of Cotonou, Benin and chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, said. What he looks forward to is the future of West African ports, and what he admires is the Chinese practice that can be seen and learned before him.
Each standardized container integrates goods of different languages and origins into the same global logistics system. Ningbo Zhoushan Port's cargo throughput will exceed 1.4 billion tons and container throughput will exceed 43 million TEUs in 2025. Cargo throughput has ranked first in the world for 17 consecutive years. The open narrative is in every lift, every route, and every order.
Rao Haribelo Alexa, special representative of the mayor of Tamatave in Madagascar, described Ningbo Zhoushan Port as “developed, modern and efficient”. She said that Tamatave Port handles about 80% of the country's maritime cargo throughput and looks forward to strengthening ties with Ningbo Zhoushan Port and expanding routes. For her, port modernization is not a dazzling display of technology, but more partners and a more predictable supply chain.
Li Fuhao, a member of the Klang City Council in Malaysia, also focused on “how to use it”. He said that Malaysia's Port Klang is promoting expansion and smart and digital transformation, and the practice of Ningbo Zhoushan Port is a good reference. He looked forward to the two ports cooperating amid competition to create a common green corridor.
These feedbacks from different continents give people a more concrete understanding of the meaning of high-level opening up: opening up is not just about opening the door wide, but also about building roads, connecting rules, and sharing experiences. Automated terminals demonstrate the hard power of China's modernization, and keywords such as "reference", "drawing on" and "cooperation" that constantly appear in the dialogue indicate that this kind of modernization continues to move forward through mutual learning and mutual achievements with the world.
Ningbo was called Mingzhou in ancient times. On the Millennium Maritime Silk Road, merchant ships once carried porcelain and tea between east and west. Today, containers depart from Ningbo Zhoushan Port, connecting more than 700 ports in more than 200 countries and regions around the world. From sails to giant ships, from cargo collection and distribution to data flow, tools are constantly changing, and openness is the city's attitude towards the world.
Openness is not just about the movement of goods in and out either. Wayne Brown, Mayor of Auckland, New Zealand, said: “If you open your eyes, ears, and smile, you can learn.” He also mentioned that the connection between people is the most important force in the trade process. The port provides a channel for encounters, and personnel exchanges and cultural exchanges allow trust to slowly grow, making it possible for a handshake to turn into a long-term cooperation.
At present, geopolitical conflicts, climate change and protectionism are intertwined, and ports are particularly sensitive to the fluctuations in the global economy. Different ports have different sizes and resources, and it is difficult to resist all risks alone. This event released the "Ningbo Consensus on Cooperation and Development", which advocates adhering to trade openness, deepening industrial collaboration, and promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges, which is precisely to deal with uncertainty with more connections.
A conversation at the port did not give a standard answer that applies to all cities, but it made the direction of the answer clearer: modernization is not about turning yourself into an island, and openness is not a one-way output. Chinese ports improve efficiency, expand routes and share solutions, which not only serves their own development, but also provides more choices and opportunities for partners.
The dialogue activity is over, the bridge crane is still rising and falling, and the trucks are still passing through. The mountains of containers will eventually sail with the cargo ships, and the guests will return home with their own experiences. What is more important than "seeing a big port" is seeing an open China that is willing to share its experience with the world and meet challenges together. The wider the door is opened, the wider the road can be; only by connecting with each other can each achieve success.
