Port chief hails maritime traffic between Antwerp and China

The Port of Antwerp in Belgium has been benefiting from China's "One Belt One Road" initiative, registering soaring year-on-year growth of goods handling between China and Europe during the first nine months of this year, said an official of the port authority.

Marc Van Peel, Vice Mayor of Antwerp and chairman of the Antwerp Port Authority said from January to September, maritime traffic between Antwerp and China was more than 9.8 million tons, up 38.1 percent year on year.

He also said compared with the same period last year, total container handling with China is over 800,000 TEUs, up 57.5 percent.

The two figures, about seven times higher than the overall growth performance of the port, released by Van Peel came in contrast with the slowing down of overall trade activities between China and Europe.

According to China's Ministry of Commerce, bilateral trade between China and EU during the first 7 months of 2015 only reached $330.59 billion, down 7.1 percent year on year.

"The initiative of the Chinese government is so important that we, as a major port in Europe, have to do whatever we can to synchronize," Van Peel said during the 5th China Day organized by Antwerp Port Authority.

His port is the first in the world to have set up a task-force to connect the Beijing-led Eurasian strategy, aiming to strengthen connectivity.

"One Belt, One Road" is a Chinese development strategy launched at the end of 2013 with its focus on connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily in Eurasia. Its two main components are the land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the ocean-going "Maritime Silk Road."

As a major trading hub, the Port of Antwerp believes the city has a potentially important role to play in both routes, hence the establishment of the task-force.

"It will advise the decision makers of the port authority to take the right strategic decision towards China and the relevant department of the port authority will offer necessary information and advice to potential Chinese investors", said Van Peel.