The Port of Antwerp has organised ‘road shows’ in the southern Chinese ports of Shenzen and Guangzhou as part of ongoing efforts to promote trade between the region and Europe.
According to a media release from the Port of Antwerp, which acts an important distribution platform for the European market, the road shows will take place from 15-19 October.
Shenzhen is an important seaport with the Pearl River delta as its hinterland, where many export-oriented businesses are located. It is also the fourth-largest container port in the world. According to the media release, trade between Shenzhen and Antwerp has grown rapidly in recent years. Antwerp has maintained close relations with Shenzhen since 2008, and the two became sister ports in 2010. The sister port agreement will be reconfirmed and further strengthened on 15 October, the media release stated.
Another important centre of economic growth on the Pearl River is Guangzhou, the capital of the Chinese province of Guangdong. This inland city is the eighth-largest container port in the world and there is a concentration of export-oriented companies in and around Guangzhou.
According to the media release, trade between Antwerp and China has expanded rapidly in the past few years, with China becoming Antwerp’s fourth-largest trading partner. The main goods shipped from China to Antwerp are containerised freight, metal products and chemicals. In the opposite direction the main categories are containerised freight, ore and recycled metal, metal products and petroleum products.
In recent years the Port of Antwerp has worked hard at strengthening relations with China, it stated. Last year the Chinese-Antwerp Circle of Friends was set up on the occasion of a trade mission to China led by Prince Philip of Belgium. This is a virtual network in which business people from Antwerp and China are able to maintain relations of business and friendship.
In addition Antwerp Port Authority has invested in establishing representatives in a number of overseas regions including China. Jan Van der Borght, the representative of the port of Antwerp in Shanghai since 2008, even received the Silver Magnolia Award. This prestigious award is presented to foreigners based in Shanghai who have made a notable contribution to the economic development of the city and its international relations.
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