Ports of Barcelona and Shanghai strengthen their alliance by signing a strategic agreement

This new agreement consolidates Port of Barcelona's position as a Euro-Mediterranean logistics hub and boosts ties with one of the world's main economic centres.

11 June 2026
From left to right; Xiao Hui, Director General of the SMTC; José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona; Jaume Duch, Regional Minister for European Union and Foreign Action of the Generalitat of Catalonia; and Yang ZhiYong, Vice President of SIPG, at the signing ceremony.
Caption
Xiao Hui, Director General of the SMTC; José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona; Jaume Duch, Regional Minister for European Union and Foreign Action of the Generalitat of Catalonia; and Yang ZhiYong, Vice President of SIPG.

The Port of Barcelona today received an institutional and business delegation from Shanghai as part of the close collaborative relationship maintained by both port infrastructures. During the course of the visit, a new strategic cooperation agreement was signed between the Port of Barcelona, the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission (SMTC) and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG). The agreement was signed by José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona; Xiao Hui, general director of the SMTC, and Yang ZhiYong, vice president of SIPG, in the presence of Jaume Duch, Regional Minister for European Union and Foreign Action. 

The agreement officially establishes the “sister ports” relationship between Shanghai and Barcelona and aims to boost cooperation in areas such as the digitalisation and security of port operations; developing green ports and alternative fuels; intermodality and fostering sustainable maritime corridors between the Far East and the Mediterranean. 

The relationship between the Port of Barcelona and the Port of Shanghai has intensified in recent years. In late July 2025, a preliminary agreement was signed between both port authorities, which led to a technical visit in September 2025 by a delegation from Shanghai led by Wang Haijian, Vice President and Director of Operations of SIPG, to advance the development of the Green Shipping and Digital Corridor between both ports. The meeting included working meetings linked to the growth of commercial and logistical exchanges between China and Europe and a visit to the Ebro-Chery facilities in the Free Zone. 

This time, there was a visit to the Autoterminal vehicle terminal, continuing the work underway to launch this Green Shipping and Digital Corridor currently being set up between both ports. 

This new institutional visit and the signing of the new agreement consolidates the Port of Barcelona's position as a Euro-Mediterranean logistics hub and strengthens its links with one of the main ports and economic centres in the world.

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