THE managing director of the Port of Hamburg's representative office in Shanghai, Lars Anke, says the Elbe River port is already playing an important role as a vital hub along the New Silk Road, the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, which is being strongly promoted by the highest echelon of the government in China.
Speaking at the recent Logistics Global Leader Forum during the China International Transportation and Logistics Expo in Chengdu, Mr Anke, said: "Whether for sea or land transport links, Hamburg is seen in China as one of the main hubs for the Silk Road. For seaborne transport, Hamburg is now the leading European seaport for China's foreign trade. With almost 2.6 million TEU in 2016, the Middle Kingdom is already Hamburg's top partner for container transport. Almost one container in three of those handled in the Port of Hamburg is bound for China or arriving from there by sea".
In rail transport between Hamburg and China, the New Silk Road offers highly promising potential for the Hanseatic City, the Hellenic Shipping News reported.
"On the one hand, the increased cooperation and joint activity between our logisticians and Chinese rail operators that is already a fact. We should continue to encourage that. On the other, Hamburg's pioneering role and expertise in intermodal services, bringing together the sea and land corridors."
The New Silk Road is a vast development project for China: Billions are flowing into investments in infrastructure and the build-up of train links. The Elbe port is already underscoring its position as a significant Silk Road hub by offering 177 container block train connections per week.
