Gothenburg, Shanghai renew port agreement to intensify collaboration on sustainable transport

October 28, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

Sweden’s Port of Gothenburg and China’s Port of Shanghai have signed a renewed sister port agreement aimed at promoting and developing cooperation on growth and sustainability between the port authorities.

The agreement was signed at a forum in Shanghai on October 22, 2024. At the same forum, the Port of Shanghai also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), announcing plans to establish a green shipping corridor.

China is Sweden’s largest trading partner in Asia with upwards of 10,000 Swedish companies engaging in trade with China, and more than 600 Swedish or Sweden-related companies operating in the country. The majority of trade between the two countries is conducted by sea—largely via a weekly container line between the ports, serviced by some of the world’s largest container ships.

The ports of Gothenburg and Shanghai are the largest container ports in the Nordics and the world, respectively. The renewed sister port agreement includes continued collaboration at the management level.

As informed, the ports will work together to increase trade exchanges as well as intensify joint efforts for sustainable transport.

“Swedish trade with China is significant, and it is our responsibility as Sweden’s largest port to help make the entire value chain more sustainable. We do this by collaborating with other ports like Shanghai on electrification and making renewable fuels available to the relevant shipping companies,” Göran Eriksson, CEO of The Port of Gothenburg, commented.

“Many of our consumer goods are imported from China, and as Swedish consumers become more aware of transport-related emissions, there are increasing demands on the entire shipping sector. In collaboration with ports around the world, the Port of Gothenburg contribute not only locally but also to global efforts,” he added.

“Sweden has a strong and resilient trading relationship with China that goes back centuries. In 1994 the cooperation between the Port of Shanghai, the largest container port in the world, and the Port of Gothenburg, largest port in Scandinavia, was formalized through a Sister Port Agreement, as both parties stated that a mutual exchange of experiences would benefit their respective activities. I am very pleased that the two Parties to the Sister Port Agreement have now agreed to continue and further develop this cooperation,” Marie-Claire Swärd Capra, Sweden’s Consul General in Shanghai who hosted the signing of the sister port agreement, said.

Back in 2023, the Port of Gothenburg inked a sister port agreement with another Chinese port, the Port of Shenzhen. The duo decided to work together on sustainable transport, volume growth and new technologies.