The 2026 Qingdao International Shipping Week commenced on March 30, gathering 300 industry leaders, government officials, and experts to explore maritime trends and cooperation opportunities.

Over five days, the event features high-level forums, announcement of achievements, and business matchmaking sessions spanning 10 specialized areas such as shipping finance, port construction, and green intelligent shipping.

As a key point on the New Eurasian Land Bridge and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Qingdao is instrumental in the Belt and Road Initiative. It also acts as a central hub for the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area.

At the opening ceremony, several significant achievements were unveiled, including Shandong Port Group's port AI chip, advances in digital port operations, and the Qingdao International Shipping Center Development Blueprint (2025). This blueprint outlines Qingdao's progress in upgrading port infrastructure and its transformation into a modern comprehensive shipping service center.

Qingdao Port ranks fourth globally in cargo throughput and fifth in container throughput. The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index has placed Qingdao at 13th worldwide — the highest among northern Chinese ports.

The city's expanding shipping influence is evident in its 2025 foreign trade figures, reaching a record 912.89 billion yuan ($132.65 billion), accounting for 25.9 percent of Shandong's total. These results underscore Qingdao's role as a global logistics hub and its integration with the international trade network.

As a key node on the New Eurasian Land Bridge and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Qingdao plays a pivotal role in the Belt and Road Initiative. [Photo/Guanhai News]