The sixth Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum is held in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 20. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

The sixth Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum was held in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province on Oct 20.

The event, which has been held for five years, serves as an important platform for exchanges and cooperation among ports and shipping companies around the world. 

This year, the forum comprises a main forum, a roundtable attended by high-level government officials, four thematic meetings and several off-site activities.

Peng Jiaxue, Party chief of Ningbo, said at the opening ceremony that Ningbo is striving to become an important hub that bolsters the nation's "dual-circulation" development pattern and aspiring to advance cooperation with global port and shipping operators.

Gao Xingfu, vice governor of Zhejiang province, pointed out that Zhejiang is willing to deepen port and shipping cooperation with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative as well as seek common development and facilitate global economic stability and development.

A declaration which calls for global port and shipping operators to work together to confront challenges posed by global economic instability and uncertainty after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic was also made at the event.

As of the host city of the forum, Ningbo is a pivotal port in China. In 2020, Ningbo Zhoushan Port handled more than 1.17 billion metric tons of cargo, up more than 4 percent year-on-year and topping the global rankings for the 12th straight year. The port's container throughput reached 28.72 million TEUs last year, up over 4 percent year-on-year and ranking third globally.