Guangzhou Port discusses pressing issues at World Ports Conference

The 2021 World Ports Conference was recently held online in late June, gathering representatives from more than 50 ports from over 20 countries and regions all over the world to carry out communications on the further development of the shipping industry.

Officials from Guangzhou Port Authority attended the conference on behalf of the Guangzhou Port. 

A round-table meeting of port authorities around the world was held during the event, discussing pressing issues, such as how to cope with the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the establishment of digital platforms and achieving a decarbonized economy.

Representatives from Guangzhou shared their experiences in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and preventing it during the meeting. Currently, all staff members at the Guangzhou Port have been vaccinated. 

A staff member from the Port of Antwerp in Belgium pointed out that all ports around the world should not only share their experiences, but also share the lessons they have learned from previous issues. It is suggested that all ports should voluntarily share their immediate issues, which may arise during daily operations to bring about awareness.  

Representatives from the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands said that ports should increase the transparency of their supply chains to provide more convenient and fairer data sharing. 

In the past two years, the Guangzhou Port has been making continuous efforts in the digitalization of the port. The fourth phase of the Nansha Port at the Guangzhou Port is scheduled to finish initial construction in early 2022, and will be the first fully automatic wharf in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.