Bridges and cranes stand tall, and giant wheels shuttle back and forth. On the coastline of Saronicos Bay, Piraeus Port is transforming from a marginal port that suffered consecutive losses over a decade ago to the most dazzling logistics hub in the Mediterranean. In early November 2025, a train loaded with photovoltaic modules set off from Shijiazhuang International Land Port, marking the official completion of a new railway sea rail multimodal transport line connecting Beijing Tianjin Hebei and Piraeus Port in Greece. This route has shortened transportation time by at least 7 days, injecting new vitality into ensuring the safety of the industrial chain.

The European terminus of this new artery, Piraeus Port in Greece, is now the fourth largest container port in Europe, much like the struggling port that once had outdated equipment and dropped to 93rd place globally.

From the brink of loss to the economic engine

During the Greek debt crisis, the port of Piraeus was a heavy burden on the Greek economy. In 2008, COSCO Group won the bid for the franchise rights of Port 2 and Port 3, marking the beginning of the port's rebirth. By introducing funds, advanced management experience, and intelligent technology, the port has undergone a complete transformation. The container throughput has jumped from about 880000 TEUs in 2010 to about 4.8 million TEUs in 2024, an increase of several times.

The revival of ports has become a booster to activate the Greek economy. It directly created over 4000 job opportunities and indirectly drove about 12000 job opportunities. Its contribution to Greece's gross domestic product reached 1.56%, which is one of the key pillars for Greece to emerge from the shadow of the debt crisis.

From a single dock to a cross continental network

The value of a port is far more than just the terminal itself. Relying on its strategic position of guarding the Mediterranean and Black Sea waterways, COSCO Shipping has created an important gateway radiating to the Central and Eastern European markets with ports as the axis. Its core is the China Europe Land Sea Express, which is a sea rail intermodal route for Asian goods to be transported by sea to Bi Port and then reloaded by railway directly to the inland of Europe. It is known as the third trade channel between Asia and Europe.

Compared to the traditional route around the Strait of Gibraltar, the new route has reduced transportation time by at least 7 days and significantly improved efficiency. This network is constantly expanding, with services extending from the initial 13 countries to Northern Europe, the United Kingdom, the Iberian Peninsula, and other regions. With the gradual recovery of shipping through the Suez Canal, Bi Port is re emerging as a key trade gateway connecting Europe and Asia, thanks to its geographical advantage as one of the closest ports to the main route from the Suez Canal to Gibraltar.

From traditional operation to intelligent win-win

The story of Bigang is a vivid epitome of connectivity and mutual benefit under the the Belt and Road Initiative. It is not a one-way capital output, but a deep integration of development strategies between China and Greece.

Now, Bi Port is facing the future and embarking on a transformation towards a world-class port. Its latest five-year plan focuses on the two pillars of digitization and green low-carbon, committed to creating a new benchmark for intelligence and green. Inside the port, COSCO Shipping is carrying out solar energy conservation renovations on the port office building and promoting the construction of shore power systems. Cooperation has also gone beyond the scope of economic and trade, extending to cultural integration. The port operator respects and actively integrates into the local area, with employees becoming Greek citizens in the Chinese Super League. The company also supports the underwater archaeological museum project in Greece, preparing to shoot a documentary about the 2500 year history of the port, and setting up scholarships to encourage Greek students to study in China. Keywords: the Belt and Road, the Belt and Road project news

The transformation of Piraeus Port from a millennium old port to a modern hub confirms the Eastern wisdom of each beautiful and shared beauty. Inside the port, the Greek flag and the flag of COSCO Shipping are flying side by side. When a train loaded with goods travels from Bi Port to the hinterland of Europe, it not only transports goods, but also a hopeful path of cooperation, win-win, and common development.Editor/Cheng Liting