The Three-Year (2024-2026) Action Plan for the Construction of Qingdao into An International Shipping Center has recently been printed and released. According to the Plan, by 2026, preliminary results will be achieved, the port cargo throughput and the container throughput will surpass 770 million tons and 36 million TEUs, respectively, the total number of shipping lines will reach 240, the sea-rail combined transport volume will exceed 2.55 million TEUs, 1,100 China-Europe freight trains will be dispatched, and the added value in the logistics sector will top RMB190 bln. By 2028, the construction of Qingdao into an international shipping center will be largely completed in terms of core functions and framework. By 2035, Qingdao will be built into a world-class international shipping center.

In line with practices in world-class international center cities, the Plan puts forward five strategic goals. They include but are not limited to advanced infrastructures, a globally-oriented shipping network, shipping trade of all kinds, a spectrum of financial services, the port-industry-city integration, speedy customs clearance, maritime services in line with international standards, professional workforce training, application of digital and intelligent technologies in ports, and AI industry clustering. Specific targets have been laid down to fulfill each strategy. For example, newly added handling capacity in ports will reach 260 million tons, the share of clean energy in ports will exceed 65%, 15 new container lines and 30 new international transit routes will be added, with international transit LCL shipments growing at an average annual rate of 10%.

The Plan stipulates the “roadmap” and the “assignment book” for the construction of Qingdao into an international shipping center, and will further give play to the role of ports as platforms and drivers of growth and accelerate the pace of building a world-class marine port. (Zhou Jianliang)

The Qianwan container terminal in Qingdao Port, Shandong Port Group.