Trade relations between China and Portugal are entering a new era, and one of the most representative projects is the bustling Port of Sines -- 200 kilometers south of Lisbon. It's been visited recently by Chinese investors, who are looking at the potential of this strategically-located maritime port. Both sides expect the role of Sines to increase under the Belt and Road Initiative. Al Goodman reports.

It's not small. And it's hardly idle. The Portuguese port of Sines, strategically located on the Atlantic, south of Lisbon, has deep waters that can handle the largest merchant vessels. And generally-calm seas, which attract shippers who want efficient cargo handling.

Sines is also attracting China's Belt and Road Initiative, for its road, or maritime assets. Many containers here are transferred to other vessels for onward shipment. Sines also has a very active Belt, or land routes, loading containers here onto several thousand trains a year.

AL GOODMAN SINES PORT, PORTUGAL "As massive as this container terminal is, handling 1.7 million of these containers a year, it's not big enough to stay competitive. Negotiations are underway to double the capacity of this terminal and in addition, to build a separate, new container terminal nearby."

The expansion would go on to new landfill, extending the existing terminal farther into the sea. Its cost - at least 300 million dollars. And the port director says it's a good fit for Belt and Road.

JOSE LUIS CACHO PRESIDENT, SINES PORT "Realistically, the growth in the port's shipping business is supported by the growth in the services we have with China."

Sines also is the birthplace of the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, who 500 years ago sailed as far as India. A long maritime tradition in this port, now looking to China.

This researcher, who's written several books about Belt and Road, says the Chinese are well aware of the potential of Sines Port.

PAULO DUARTE RESEARCHER FOR BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE "China does everything in the long-term perspective. So I would say even if Portugal is not capturing enough attention, or it could capture more, but it will increase."

It may be an uphill climb for Sines, which competes with ports in northern Europe, neighboring Spain and the Mediterranean, and North Africa, as it vies to be a key - north-south, east-west - axis port of call.

Yet Sines Port already is in operation round the clock, every day of the year. Even at dusk, cargo ships line up to unload. They simply can't add more hours of operation. But they can make it bigger, for Belt and Road and other clients. Al Goodman, CGTN, Port of Sines, Portugal.