The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) has set a strategic goal for this year to continue strengthening its partnership with China. From the PAV, China and the entire Asian continent are considered as a fundamental piece for the future of the Valencian port facilities. This decision is framed in the next projections of global economic growth. In particular, the latest McKynsey report points out that Asia will be next to Africa the big growth markets for the next 50 years. For it, the PAV plans to put in value its strategic location in line with the East-West corridor as well as its infrastructures for maritime transport.
In this same line, it is worth noting that the commercial and cooperation relations between China and Valenciaport have increased considerably during 2017. Last April, the Chinese ambassador to Spain visited the port of Valencia, accompanied by a large representation of Chinese businessmen, with the aim of knowing the future expansion plans of the Valencian site. Later, in September, a delegation from the government of the Chinese region of Tianjin, the natural port of Beijing, visited Valenciaport, where they were shown the facilities of the port of Valencia, the ZAL as well as the northern extension of the site.
This visit made the port of Valencia the only Spanish port site invited to attend the “International Forum on the Belt and Road Port Cities”, considered in China as the most important international meeting on ports and cities related to the new Silk Route. The attendance of Valenciaport to the event aroused great interest in the Asian country, as evidenced by the extensive media coverage that Chinese television dedicated to the general director of the PAV, Francesc Sánchez. Also, this meeting led to the signing of a collaboration agreement between Valenciaport and the Chinese port of Tianjin to enhance mutual collaboration between both venues and develop projects in environmental matters.
In 2017, Valenciaport was also visited by the Silk Road International (SICO), one of the most important non-governmental organizations in China dedicated to the promotion of commercial, economic and cultural relations, which studies the possibility of opening its Mediterranean headquarters in Valencia. Likewise, the Foundation for the Exchange between Yiwu and Spain was interested in the port of Valencia, an organization that, among other functions, aims to promote the normalization of the railway line operations between Madrid and the Chinese city of Yiwu.
Traffics with China
Currently, 48% of the traffic that Valenciaport manages has its origin / destination in the Far East and China stands as the main commercial partner of the site. The Valencian site is currently connected to 80 ports in the Asian country, compared to 50 with which it maintained commercial relations in 2016, the most outstanding being those of Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Qingdao, Xiamen, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Shekou, Chiwan and Nansha.
In the accumulated until November, China channeled 6.48 million tonnes with origin / destination to Valenciaport, a figure that represents a growth of 3.18%. As for full TEUS, at the end of November, the port had channeled 532,000 TEU, a 4.87% more.
Source: Port of Valencia