By Mariatou Ngum & Abdou Mbye

Vice President His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow on Sunday 7th June conducted an official visit to the Tianjin Port Smart Zero-Carbon Terminal, the world’s most advanced automated container port, on the sidelines of his participation in the Human Rights Forum in China.

Following a conducted tour with his delegation, VP Jallow described his overall impression of China as deeply positive. “My first impression is that it is very clean, green, orderly, and organised. We see a lot of development taking place,” he told the press.

The Tianjin terminal, located in the Binhai New Area, is a key node of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Designed around the concept of “smart zero-carbon,” it operates through full automation, 5G connectivity, and a network of over 100,000 smart sensors — achieving zero carbon emissions through a wind-solar-storage green energy system that is 100% self-sufficient. It maintains trade ties with more than 500 ports across 180 countries and operates 147 container shipping routes globally.

VP Jallow singled out the terminal’s net-zero status as its most impressive feature, noting its particular relevance for The Gambia.

 

On automation and employment, the Vice President noted that efficiency and job creation are not at odds. Retrained workers and increased trade throughput, he said, ultimately grow the broader economy and create opportunities across sectors.

The VP also used the occasion to thank the Chinese government for approving the export of Gambian groundnuts to China, calling it a significant boost to national income, and expressed hope that cashew nuts and other products will follow.

The visit comes as The Gambia and China mark the 10th anniversary of the resumption of their diplomatic relations, a partnership the Vice President described as going “from strength to strength.