The general director of the Port Authority of Valencia presents in Tianjin the strength of the port of Valencia for the new commercial challenges.
Francesc Sánchez: “The port of Valencia is once again prepared to take advantage again of the opportunities of the new silk route”.
Valencia, December the 11th 2017. – The general director of the Port Authority of Valencia, Francesc Sanchez, has taken to Tianjin, the natural port of Beijing, the message of commercial commitment of Valenciaport with the ports of China and with the Silk Road, within the plan of the Valencian site to strengthen its international relations and position itself as a great hub port of the Mediterranean.
Francesc Sánchez has participated in the “International Forum on the Belt and Road Port Cities”, held last weekend in Tianjin; meeting in which the main ports of China and the world have participated. The one of Valencia has been the only Spanish port that has attended this forum, considered in the Asian country as the most important international meeting in China about ports and cities related to the new Silk Road.
The general director of Valenciaport has held meetings and bilateral meetings with officials of several ports there, including the highest leader of the “Office of Ports Affairs of Tianjin Government”, Zhu Zhenyu.
Francesc Sanchez intervened before the port leaders meeting in Tianjin and stressed the importance of the Silk Road for the world commercial, especially for Valencia. “The Silk Road,” Francesc Sanchez said, “was a commercial, cultural and economic opportunity that Valencia took advantage of to develop the very important silk industry between the 14th and 18th centuries. In fact, one of the main monuments of the city is precisely the Lonja de los Mercaderes de la Seda, a building that is a World Heritage Site. Now, again, the port of Valencia is ready to take advantage of the opportunities that come hand in hand with the new Silk Road. ”
The director of Valenciaport recalled that the commercial importance of silk which lasted until the nineteenth century, as still in 1834 it represented 53% of the value of agricultural exports; the most important of the time.
“Currently,” the director of the Port Authority of Valencia in Tinajin explained, silk continues to be for the Valencian Community a symbol of identity with reference institutions such as the College of the Greater Art of Silk or the Lonja, architectural and artistic gems of reference, always present in the cruise tourism campaigns of the Port Authority of Valencia “.
Continuing with his speech, Francesc Sánchez exposed the international projection that the ports of Valenciaport have acquired in their commercial relations with China and with the Asian world in general, “economic boost that has made it possible to place the port of Valencia as the first in the Mediterranean and the fifth of Europe.”
The presence of the presidents and CEOs of the most important ports in Asia, allowed Francesc Sánchez to present the main magnitudes, capacities, potential of its hinterland, road and rail connections, infrastructures and maritime services of the Port Authority of Valencia; highlighting the importance that the three main shipping companies in the world (Maersk, MSC and Cosco) have invested in the three large container terminals in the port of Valencia; and that the port of Valencia be prepared to operate the largest container ships in the world. “It is a matter, of infrastructures that, together with the future northern extension, ensure for many years a great future for the port of Valencia.” Francesc Sanchez said.
Currently, almost 50% of foreign trade between Spain and China passes through the port of Valencia, so the participation of Valencia in “Belt and Road” will not only help improve trade between the two countries, but also serve (as in the past) for cultural exchange and knowledge. “Tasks that should be developed emphasizing, above all, the importance of people, and under the premises of sustainability, peace and dialogue among all”, the general director of Valenciaport concluded.