Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – Looking at the new landscape of China's opening-up through the lens of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, one conclusion is clear: despite the rampant unilateralism and protectionism internationally, China's determination to open up remains unwavering, and its openness is becoming increasingly robust, bringing more new opportunities to the world.
Recently, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in Zhejiang Province released its 2025 performance report: its cargo throughput exceeded 1.4 billion tons, ranking first globally for 17 consecutive years, becoming the world's first super port to reach the "1.4 billion tons" mark. In the current context of headwinds for economic globalization and complex and volatile geopolitical landscape and trade policies, this achievement is hard-won, reflecting a forward-looking strategy and a profound transformation in development philosophy.
"The environment for large-scale imports and exports has changed, and we must propose new ideas to guide development based on the new situation." In 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and, shortly after returning to Beijing, proposed building a new development pattern with the domestic cycle as the mainstay and the domestic and international cycles mutually reinforcing each other. The growth of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port over the past six years clearly reflects the new landscape of China's high-level opening-up.
From "large-scale imports and exports" to "high-quality imports and exports," this reflects the transformation of China's foreign trade drivers. Exported products are becoming "newer" and "greener." Observing the export data of Ningbo Port, high-tech products are performing exceptionally well. In 2025, the export value of the "new three items" (referring to three key emerging technologies) increased by 76.3% year-on-year, and industrial robots are popular in the international market, with export value increasing by 113% year-on-year. Driven by innovation and supported by green development, new productivity is activating the momentum of foreign trade, and "Made in China 2025" continues to provide the world with high-quality, affordable, stable, and reliable products. Import data is equally impressive. In 2025, the import of high-tech products through Ningbo Port increased by 13.5%. This once again proves that China's high-quality development brings about a new upgrade of opportunities, and the dividends of its super-large-scale market are being further released.
From "overcoming difficulties" to "growth against the trend," this demonstrates the confidence and strength to cope with the challenges of the times. In recent years, from the impact of the global pandemic to the disruption of tariffs, international trade has faced numerous challenges. How to break through these difficulties? In 2025, the container throughput of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port exceeded 40 million TEUs for the first time. Looking at new energy vehicles alone, Ningbo's new energy vehicle exports increased by 305.8% year-on-year last year, with an average of more than 700 new energy vehicles departing from Ningbo to the world every day. Behind these export figures lies the core strength of a highly competitive industrial cluster. In 2025, Ningbo's first batch of newly recognized high-tech enterprises reached 2,666, demonstrating the continued release of the industrial cluster effect and driving comprehensive upgrades from technology to products to the entire industrial chain. A large number of enterprises have connected to the global market through Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, establishing a firm foothold in the global industrial chain with their strong competitiveness.
From "factor flow" to "rule-led," this demonstrates the steady progress of institutional opening-up. Institutional opening-up represents a higher level of openness. From exploring and formulating rules for cross-border data flows in the bulk commodity sector to improving international maritime arbitration and commercial mediation mechanisms, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, relying on the Zhejiang Free Trade Zone, has always been at the forefront of institutional opening-up. Today, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is collaborating with the Ports of Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven in Germany, and Valencia in Spain to jointly build green shipping corridors, exploring unified green standards "from port to port"; and establishing platforms such as the "Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum" to promote the formation of international friendly port cooperation mechanisms… From proactive engagement to joint standard-setting, China's voice and influence in international rule-making are constantly increasing.
From "freight corridor" to "open hub," a dense network of partners for symbiotic development is being woven. On January 8, the maiden voyage cargo ship "MSC Jessinia" on a new Australian route berthed at the Chuanshan Port Area of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. Currently, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has over 300 shipping routes, connecting more than 700 ports in over 200 countries and regions worldwide, and its port connectivity index ranks second globally. The port's "circle of friends" is constantly expanding, and its market structure is becoming more diversified. In 2025, Zhejiang's imports and exports with more than 180 countries and regions achieved growth, with imports and exports to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative exceeding 3 trillion yuan for the first time, a year-on-year increase of 8.7%. Looking at the bigger picture from a local perspective, today's China is strengthening ties with more partners, expanding the convergence of interests with various countries, and adding momentum to economic globalization through open cooperation.
In previous years, when some in the international community questioned whether China's new development pattern meant abandoning openness, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly stated: "'Dual circulation' is not about closing the country off, but about ensuring that we can survive and thrive even when others don't open their doors to us. We welcome anyone who wants to cooperate with us."
Today, looking at the new atmosphere of China's openness through the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, one conclusion is very clear: despite the rampant unilateralism and protectionism internationally, China's determination to open up remains unwavering, and its openness is even stronger, bringing more new opportunities to the world.
