Djibouti port signs partnership agreement with China's Qingdao port

DJIBOUTI - The port of Djibouti and China's Qingdao port have signed a partnership agreement in the Djibouti capital.

The agreement, which was signed on Wednesday by Djibouti port's director general Saad Omar Guelleh and the vice-president of Qingdao port Cheng Xinnong, aims to reinforce Djibouti port's human resource capacities and logistical means.

It also aims at increasing exchanges between the Djibouti port and Qingdao port in China.

"The partnership will boost operations at the Djibouti port and it will offer it new prospects in various domains, given that Qingdao port has a much development port sector. We therefore intend to benefit from its expertise and its logistical as well as technological prowess," the director general of Djibouti port said.

The vice-president of Qingdao port hailed the "important" role played by Djibouti port in facilitating international trade at regional level.

"China and Djibouti enjoy excellent relationship and the partnership we have sealed today will reinforce the friendship between our two nations. Qingado port will offer all the necessary skills and will support efforts to develop Djibouti port," Cheng said.

Situated on the Yellow Sea, Qingdao port is one of the most frequently visited ports in the world. It is today the third in China and seventh in the world with capacity to hold 15 million containers on transit each year.