By Jin Lu

Mar Chao Lopez, president of the Port Authority of Valencia, said a green shipping corridor with Ningbo Zhoushan Port is now under development, as the two ports deepen cooperation on decarbonization, smart port development and China–Europe maritime connectivity.

Speaking at the 10th Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum in Ningbo, Lopez said the event has become an influential event in the global maritime industry, bringing together major carriers, terminal operators and port authorities to exchange views and explore cooperation opportunities.

She noted that the Port of Valencia—Spain's largest container port, handling around 42% of the country's containerized imports and exports—is maintaining a long-term partnership with Ningbo Zhoushan Port. The two ports, she added, share closely aligned priorities in digitalization, automation and low-carbon transformation.

Lopez said decarbonization has become a regulatory requirement in Europe, with Valencia targeting carbon neutrality by 2035 through measures including expanded solar power use, shore power deployment and cleaner operational practices.

She added that automation and digitalization are also central to future competitiveness, pointing to Chinese ports, including Ningbo, as global benchmarks in smart terminal operations that European ports are actively learning from.

The green shipping corridor initiative between Ningbo Zhoushan and Valencia is now being rolled out with participation from shipping companies, terminal operators and research institutions on both sides, alongside coordinated carbon accounting and aligned emissions reduction targets.

Lopez also expressed hope that a direct shipping service between the two ports could eventually be established, which would shorten transit times, reduce logistics costs and further strengthen China–Europe supply chain connectivity.