Dubai-owned port operator DP World and China's Qingdao Port Group have signed a strategic framework agreement to enhance port co-operation.

Under the framework agreement, both parties intend to study current liner services and trade volumes between their respective ports to explore how they can further stimulate business growth, said Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the chairman of DP World after signing the deal with Qingdao Port Group chairman Zheng Minghua.

The two are already joint venture partners and the agreement builds on the existing collaboration between the two marine terminal operators, focusing on enhancing dialogue and collaboration between the Port of Qingdao and DP World’s ports in Dubai, namely Jebel Ali and Mina Rashid.

They also agreed to initiate knowledge and experience sharing in the field of cruise terminal operation and management, and to discuss the feasibility of establishing cruise services between the Port of Qingdao and Mina Rashid.

Additionally, the agreement included the intention to establish a new cohesive and systematic approach to information sharing on terminal operations, including port planning and development, management, productivity improvement, green port initiatives and staff training.

Sulayem said: "Qingdao is an important and busy part of our network in the Asia Pacific region and we have a strong partnership with the Chinese group. Like DP World, Qingdao is extremely customer-focused and we look forward to working even more closely with them in the future to offer enhanced services."

"We are excited about the possibility of developing cruise services between Mina Rashid and Qingdao. This is an area of great potential," he added.-TradeArabia News Service