On 28 October 2025, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port welcomed a delegation from the Mineral Resources Authority of Papua New Guinea (hereinafter "PNG"). The delegation comprised three government officials covering core mining-related fields including mineral resource management, geological exploration and information editing. The visit was dedicated to inspecting the hub development, smart operations and bulk cargo logistics system of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, with a view to building a logistics bridge for cooperation between Chinese enterprises and the PNG mining sector. During the visit, the delegation toured the Beilun ore transshipment terminal, the smart operations zone of Meishan Port Area and the mineral products testing centre of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. They observed the full process of ultra-large vessel berthing, automated loading and unloading, ore storage and transshipment, and one-stop testing, and gained a detailed understanding of the port's end-to-end service capabilities in bulk mineral receiving, storage, transportation and customs clearance.
As a mega hub ranking first in the world in cargo throughput and third in container throughput, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port handled more than 1.4 billion tonnes of cargo and over 40 million TEU of containers in 2025. Its shipping routes cover more than 700 ports in over 200 countries and regions, and it operates more than 110 sea-rail intermodal lines. With the capacity to berth 300,000-tonne ultra-large ore carriers around the clock, it is one of the most important mineral transshipment and logistics distribution centres in the Asia-Pacific regionNingbo Municipal Development and Reform Commission. Its efficient operations, well-developed infrastructure, green and smart operating model and full-chain logistics service system left a deep impression on the PNG delegation and drew high praise. Members of the PNG Mineral Resources Authority delegation noted that Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with mineral resources, with substantial reserves of gold, copper, nickel and cobalt, and that mining is a pillar of the national economy. However, the country currently faces bottlenecks such as insufficient logistics support for mineral exports and poor connectivity with international shippingEconomic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Independent State of Papua New Guinea。
As a world-class logistics hub, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port offers highly valuable experience in bulk mineral transport, port operation management and smart port development. Its comprehensive logistics network and efficient operating system are exactly the core support that PNG's mining sector needs as it goes global. The delegation expressed a strong desire to deepen cooperation, stating that the Mineral Resources Authority will use this visit as an opportunity to promote the establishment of a long-term, stable strategic partnership between the PNG mining sector and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, focusing onmineral export logistics connectivity, sharing of port operation experience, and coordination along the mining logistics industrial chainas three directions for deepening pragmatic cooperation. By leveraging Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's global logistics hub strengths, the two sides aim to open an efficient logistics channel for PNG minerals from the mine site to international markets, helping PNG convert its resource advantages into economic growth momentum, while also expanding cooperation in mineral exploration and development, information exchange and talent training, so as to achieve mutual benefit and common development. This visit by the PNG Mineral Resources Authority delegation to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port is an important practice of cooperation between Chinese enterprises and the PNG mining sector, and a vivid example of economic and trade cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries under the Belt and Road framework. Going forward, the two sides will use mining and logistics cooperation as a bond to further deepen exchanges and mutual learning, build consensus on cooperation, and facilitate the implementation of more practical cooperation projects, injecting new momentum into the sustained and sound development of China-PNG bilateral economic and trade relations.