The port city is the sea gate of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, meeting point of the Belt and Road, and important stop on the New Eurasian Continental Bridge Economic Corridor.

The pilot free trade zone, taking advantage of advantages location and preferential tax policy, has attracted large shipping companies and logistics enterprises.

These companies and enterprises have driven the development of shipping insurances, agencies, and trade along with supporting industries.

In the first half, Tianjin Port saw cargo throughput rise 1.7 percent year on year to 208 million tonnes in the first half of this year, according to the Tianjin Port Group.

The container throughput of the northern Chinese port surpassed 8.57 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in the period, up 2.9 percent year on year.

At a news conference on July 27, the port city announced its aim to build a world-class smart port by 2035, with annual container throughput exceeding 30 million TEUs.

The port is also getting smart with leading technologies. Giving full play to the role of intelligent technologies, the port has built a world-first automated container facility, with intelligent tallying being used in all terminals for the first time.

According to newly released Xinhua-Baltic Exchange International Shipping Center Development Index. Tianjin has been ranked 20th among global shipping centers and 6th among mainland Chinese ports, a significant rise from 30th internationally in 2018.

The Index is based on factors such as port conditions, shipping services and integrated environment.