Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority representative calls for enhanced port dialogue to tackle challenges together

The 3rd Tianjin International Shipping Industry Expo kicked off recently in north China's Tianjin Municipality. With the theme of "Shipping to the world and navigating towards the future", the expo focused on the entire shipping industry chain and aimed to become the most influential shipping event and cooperation platform both in China and in the world.

During the event, Jan Van der Borght, port representative of the Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority, noted that efficient connectivity with inland regions is of critical importance for ports.

He noted that Tianjin Port serves as an industrial and innovation hub in northern China and has a long-standing partnership with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, covering areas such as education and technical exchanges.

When discussing how to enhance the appeal of Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone to European investors, Van der Borght suggested that offering tax incentives and establishing international schools could help improve its attractiveness. Meanwhile, to strengthen supply chain resilience, he proposed diversifying transportation modes, adopting digital technologies, and promoting green energy to enhance ports' risk resistance.

Looking ahead, he called for closer global port cooperation to jointly address the challenges of decarbonization and green transition, thereby driving sustainable development.

(By Yang Yifan, yangyifan@xinhua.org)