Chinese shipping beefs up global supply chains

With innovation and improved efficiency, key industry promotes economic expansion, high-quality development

TIANJIN — Cheng Weidong has worked as a trailer driver in Tianjin port for almost three decades. Over the years, the port and his job have changed a lot, with training AI transportation robots newly added to his duties.

"In the past, a skilled trailer driver could only transport a few hundred metric tons of cargo a day. Today, goods from all over the world can be transported, loaded and unloaded much more efficiently owing to the intelligent port construction," Cheng said.

Home to the world's first smart, zero-carbon terminal and a demonstration area of port autonomous driving, Tianjin port maintains shipping trade with more than 500 ports in over 180 countries and regions, and its cargo and container throughput ranks among the global top 10.