Zhejiang port firm embraces 'dual-circulation' pattern

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang province is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in the building of China's new "dual-circulation" development pattern over the coming five years, said business leaders and experts.

Jiang Wei, board secretary of Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co Ltd, said integrated sea and rail transportation is the key to promoting imports and exports of cargo from China's inland regions, and the number of containers handled this way by the port is a clear indication that the new model of development, in which the domestic market is the mainstay and the domestic and international markets complement each other, is clearly taking shape.

Three of the 19 areas of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port－Zhenhai, Beilun and Chuanshan－now operate a total of 17 freight train routes connecting with 15 provincial regions, including the Tibet and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions, as well as European countries such as Germany and Hungary.

Major commodities handled by the port include auto parts, photovoltaic products, outdoor furniture, household appliances and electronic products.

"We have faith in China's economy as the country prepares for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), and we believe we will have solid foundations to progress further," Jiang said.

The port handled 3.05 million standard containers for domestic trade in the first three quarters, up 21 percent year-on-year. That number soared 38 percent year-on-year during the third quarter alone.

And the figure for October is expected to see a year-on-year increase of 29.5 percent, the company said on Nov 3.