Leading port enterprises in the Greater Bay Area unite to enhance collaboration and boost global competitiveness through a new cooperative initiative.
At the 2026 Ocean Centre City Forum's Port and Shipping Forum, leading port enterprises from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including Shenzhen Port Group, Hutchison Ports, China Merchants Port, and Guangzhou Port Group, jointly launched the Cooperative Initiative on Coordinated Development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Ports.
This initiative focuses on enhancing collaboration in key areas such as port layout coordination, shipping route interconnectivity, green shipping corridors, resource sharing, and smart port development. The goal is to boost the global competitiveness of the region's port cluster and solidify Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou as international shipping hubs.
Hosted by Shenzhen Port Group during the China Ocean Economy Expo, the forum was themed 'Open Cooperation, Coordinated Resilience, Green Intelligence - Building a New Ecosystem for High-Quality Port and Shipping Development.' Over 100 representatives from domestic and international think tanks, industry leaders, and experts discussed enhancing the Greater Bay Area port cluster's efficiency by shifting from competition to collaboration and focusing on quality over scale amid global supply chain restructuring and green transitions.
The cooperative initiative marks a transition towards institutionalized coordination among the region's ports. It aims to align port functions, integrate shipping networks, and promote green and smart transformation, enhancing resource allocation and operational efficiency. Observers note that coordinated efforts will reduce competition and foster a complementary world-class port cluster.
Keynote speakers addressed topics such as coordinated port development, green shipping under carbon targets, and digital transformation. Consensus was reached on three priorities: advancing collaborative port development, promoting smart and green upgrades, and building a resilient global supply chain. Shenzhen Port Group reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation, accelerating green and digital transformation, and strengthening the region's hub functions, driving the development of a world-class port ecosystem through open, sustainable, and coordinated growth.
