On October 14, 2013, Huang Min, Director General of the Transport Commission of the Shenzhen Municipality and Geoffrey Machum, Chair of Halifax Port Authority signed a sister port relationship agreement between Shenzhen Port Authority and Halifax Port Authority.
Shi Wei, Deputy Director General of the Transport Commission of the Shenzhen Municipality hosted the ceremony and Weldon Epp, Consul General attached to the Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou participated as a witness for Canada.
The port of Shenzhen and its four larger terminal operators – Yantian, Chiwan, Shekou and Dachan Bay – has been the world’s fourth largest container port for ten consecutive years and China’s second largest container port for sixteen consecutive years. The port of Shenzhen is the main container hub for the province of Guangdong and the Pearl River economic zone.
The purpose of the twinning agreement is to grow the shipping business for both ports as well as deepen the understanding and build relations between the two regions. With this agreement, Halifax Port Authority is joining a family of sister agreements Shenzhen Port Authority has concluded with Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge, Hamburg Port Authority and Port of Virginia, to name a few.
While work towards the agreement was started months ago, this cooperation agreement follows up on the advice Zhang Junsai, China’s Ambassador to Canada, provided during Halifax Port Days 2013. While addressing attendees during the Chairman’s Breakfast, he discussed the growing demand in China for commodities and resources from Atlantic Canada.
During the signing ceremony, Mr. Machum stated, “We are honoured to become associated with the vibrant future of Port of Shenzhen and the growth of trade between the People’s Republic of China and Canada. This agreement furthers Halifax Port Authority’s growth strategy as Canada’s Atlantic Gateway in the development of both Asian and European trade.”