Editor's note: Xin Ge, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is a research fellow at the Institute of Public Policy and Governance, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE), and an associate professor at the School of Public Economics and Administration, SUFE. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

On May 22, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, embarked on an inspection tour of Rizhao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province. During the visit to Rizhao Port and a coastal greenway, he learned about the local progress in promoting smart and sustainable port development, expanding the economic opening-up, enhancing marine ecological restoration, and improving people's livelihoods.

This is not the first time that President Xi has inspected a city with a port. But why is Rizhao Port important? In April 2017, while speaking with the dock workers at Tieshan Port in Guangxi, he cited "roads first, then prosperity," adding that in coastal areas, ports must be built first if you want prosperity. In January 2019, during his inspection in Tianjin, Xi stressed that "economy is the top priority in developing a country, and to achieve economic progress, building transportation infrastructure comes first." Further reinforcing this view in March 2020 during his visit to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Xi stated that ports are fundamental and pivotal facilities, serving as critical supports for economic growth.

Rizhao Port, under operation since 1986, has evolved into a vital global hub for the transshipment of energy and bulk raw materials. The port, together with Qingdao Port, Yantai Port, and Bohai Bay Port formed the Shandong Port Group Co., Ltd years ago whose cargo throughput exceeded 1.7 billion metric tons in 2023, making it the largest in the world.

During his visit to Rizhao Port, Xi was apprised of significant advancements in smart and green port initiatives. Rizhao Port, recognized as a national model for intelligent and sustainable bulk cargo handling, boasts the world's first fully automated quay-side open container terminal. This innovation has increased single-machine efficiency by 50 percent and reduced annual carbon emissions by over 9,700 tons.

Additionally, Rizhao Port features a fully automated terminal with independent intellectual property rights, having successfully navigated numerous global technical challenges. Moreover, strategically, the port serves as a key node for the New Eurasian Land Bridge and an important hub for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The second leg of the Rizhao tour took Xi to a coastal greenway, where he observed local efforts in coastal ecological protection and restoration, aimed at enhancing residents' quality of life. As early as July 2013, during a collective study session of the Central Political Bureau of the CPC, Xi emphasized the need to integrate marine ecological civilization into ocean development planning, balancing development with protection, pollution prevention, and ecological restoration. He highlighted the urgency of formulating a coastal protection and utilization plan.

The greenway stretches approximately 28 kilometers and was fully opened in July 2020. Its construction is based on the idea of protecting original features and ensuring the preservation of black pines, reefs, and beaches. Also when building this greenway, significant efforts were made to focus on restoring and improving ecologically vulnerable areas along the route, including abandoned shrimp ponds and wastelands, with over 5,000 meters of coastal areas restored.

The greenway links 13 scenic spots and eight coastal villages, featuring viewing platforms, sports trails, and rest squares for visitors. Annually, more than 20 cycling and walking events are held along this route.

Shandong is a key coastal province. During the 2018 "two sessions," President Xi Jinping addressed the Shandong delegation, stating, "The ocean is a strategic area for high-quality development. We must accelerate the construction of world-class marine ports, establish a comprehensive modern marine industry system, and cultivate a green and sustainable marine ecological environment."

Xi's inspection of the port and the greenway in his inspection in Rizhao underscores his dedication to developing a robust port economy that supports high-level opening-up and the BRI, while also enhancing the ecological environment to benefit local residents.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on X, formerly Twitter, to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)