Barcelona–Shanghai Green Corridor strengthens Catalonia's business ties with China

The Barcelona–Shanghai Green and Digital Maritime Corridor took center stage during Barcelona City Council’s institutional and business mission to China. The initiative, promoted through the collaboration between the Port of Barcelona and the Port of Shanghai, aims to decarbonize maritime routes, improve logistics efficiency, and open new opportunities for business collaboration between Catalonia and China.

The roundtable, held last week at the Bund Auditorium in Shanghai, brought together institutional representatives, logistics operators, and industrial companies from both countries. The session was jointly organized by the Port of Shanghai, the Port of Barcelona, and the Government of Catalonia, represented by ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment. The event was led by Tianqi Zhang, Senior Consultant at ACCIÓ’s China Desk.

“When we talk about a green corridor between two ports like Barcelona and Shanghai, we are talking about emissions-free logistics from the factory to the final destination”

Carla Salvadó, Deputy Director General at the Port of Barcelona

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A platform for business and investment

For ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the corridor goes beyond maritime logistics. It serves as a platform to strengthen economic relations between Catalonia and China, promote new investment opportunities, and promote collaboration among companies, ports, and innovation ecosystems in both regions.

During the session, ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment highlighted Catalonia’s position as one of Europe’s leading industrial and logistics hubs, as well as its function as a gateway for international investment and trade in southern Europe. ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment's Investment Manager in China, Paggy Zhang, presented chances for collaboration in strategic sectors linked to the corridor, including sustainable mobility, advanced manufacturing, logistics, digital technologies, and the energy transition.

The roundtable was moderated by Santiago Garcia-Milà, Deputy Director General and Head of Innovation and Business Strategy at the Port of Barcelona. It featured executives from Chery, the Ro-Ro shipping company AICC, the main car terminal at the Port of Shanghai, and Repsol.

Participants underlined the potential of initiatives such as the Barcelona–Shanghai corridor to transform the maritime sector by advancing decarbonization, improving operational capability, facilitating information exchange, and establishing shared regulations and protocols.

Carla Salvadó, Deputy Director General and Head of Commercial and Marketing at the Port of Barcelona, closed the session by emphasizing the wider impact of the corridor regarding logistics and competitiveness.

"When we talk about a green corridor between two ports like Barcelona and Shanghai, we are not referring to making the journey by ship more environmentally friendly. We are talking about emissions-free logistics from the factory to the final destination, and that involves all the actors involved. And this is where ports have a key role as promoters and facilitators of this green logistics, which will make our clients more competitive," Salvadó said.

The Green Shipping and Digital Corridor is part of the growing relationship between the Port of Barcelona and the Port of Shanghai. This alliance has intensified in recent years and culminated earlier this month with the signing of a strategic agreement during a Chinese delegation’s visit to Barcelona, officially establishing the “sister ports” relationship between Shanghai and Barcelona.

The agreement is enabling progress on key elements for the corridor’s future deployment, including aligned protocols and regulations for the supply of alternative fuels, the electrification of docks, and the decarbonization of onshore logistics.

A growing Barcelona–Shanghai partnership

The initiative also reinforces Catalonia’s position as a strategic location for Chinese companies seeking to expand in Europe. Today, Catalonia hosts more than 200 Chinese companies across sectors such as automotive, mobility, technology, electronics, logistics, renewable energy, and e-commerce.

Through its offices in China (Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) and its China Desk in Barcelona, ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment supports Chinese companies interested in establishing or expanding their operations in southern Europe, while also promoting strategic alliances between Catalan and Chinese stakeholders.

Initiatives such as the Barcelona–Shanghai Green and Digital Maritime Corridor further strengthen this common commitment to building stronger economic ties between Asia and Catalonia, as advancing toward a more sustainable and connected global economy.

Source: Port of Barcelona