After handling the 50 millionth twenty-foot equivalent unit this year on Dec 22, Shanghai Port officially became the world's first port to cross the 50 million mark for annual container throughput, solidifying its competitiveness as the world's busiest container port for 15 consecutive years, said the port's operator Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd.

The benchmark event is seen bolstering Shanghai's status as a comprehensive international shipping hub, said officials.

"After years of unremitting efforts, Shanghai has grown into an international shipping center with all sufficient elements and relatively complete functions. The city's capabilities in serving the whole country and building global connectivity have been further enhanced," said Chen Jining, Party secretary of Shanghai, during a recent meeting in the city.

"We will further solidify strategic connections, deepen work collaboration, jointly shoulder important missions and seize development opportunities to build a shipping nexus with global reach and create a new paradigm in the construction of the Shanghai international shipping center," Chen said.

Launching container transportation in 1978, Shanghai Port has in the past few decades undergone rapid growth and expansion, witnessing the rise of the city's position as a world-class shipping hub. The port now ranks first globally for 15 years straight in terms of annual container throughput.

Currently, the port operates nearly 350 international shipping routes, connecting more than 700 ports in over 200 countries and regions worldwide.

"Positive progress in boosting the construction of the Shanghai international shipping center has been made with the support of the Ministry of Transport and the entire Yangtze River Delta region, including the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui as well as Shanghai itself. In the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the shipping industry is facing both opportunities and challenges," said Liu Wei, minister of transport.

"Therefore, efforts are required to accelerate innovative and integrated development, transform all the positive elements into development achievements, accelerate Shanghai's development as a leading global shipping center, and better drive high quality development of the Yangtze River Delta region and the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Liu said.

Having constantly improved its functionality and high-quality services, the port's advantages serve as a strong driver for growing container throughput.

"The proportion of shipbound trade to and from the port is expected to reach a record 60 percent in 2024," said Yang Yanbin, deputy general manager of the production and business department of the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd.

Shanghai was rated third among international shipping centers, only after Singapore and London, according to the 2024 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index published in August.