Global shipping giants urge economic and political stability to boost trade flow

Global shipping giants attending the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum in eastern China's port city of Ningbo have called for economic and political stability amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The four-day forum, which opened Monday, has gathered over 80 representatives from major global port authorities, shipping operators, and maritime research institutions. For many attendees, the impact of fluctuating U.S. tariff rates on the shipping industry is at the forefront of discussions.

"We believe that the suspension of tariffs that has now happened will carry on indefinitely, and we are now seeing that the trans-pacific trade, China-U.S., is going up a lot. Global trade benefits everyone and therefore, in principle, it will continue to grow," said Tim Power, Managing Director of Drewry Maritime Services.

"We are living in a very uncertain world, unfortunately. We all wish the business would flow like water and we could see that we are working together and making money and facilitate trade and facilitate also the communication. So, we maintain a relationship with our Chinese customers, with the customers all over the world," said Dominik Landa, director of Strategy and Development of Poland's Port of Gdansk Authority.

The event saw the release of two consensus documents, the Partnership for Maritime Silk Road Ports and the Vision for Building a Sustainable Global Supply Chain Community (2025, Ningbo), showing global port groups' support for multilateralism and their calls for dialogue and negotiation to resolve disputes.

"We are living in a troubled world with war, tariffs, and so on. That's why cooperation is so important. Because we have to share a lot of things to ease and to smooth the supply chain because finally as ports, we are bringing goods, we are bringing foods and so on. So, we have to be connected to a lot of people to enjoy life," said Cedric Virciglio, strategic planning and forecasting director of Haropa Port of France.

Guests said countries should embrace open and inclusive cooperation to overcome challenges.

"As the world is now getting a little bit more into complexity, I think Cambodia also is ready to adapt ourselves, especially in a more open and inclusive cooperation with all the international services," said Taing Samoeum, Under Secretary of State and Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia.

"If you raise tariffs, then you punish the people of your own country. This is what sadly is happening on my side of the world. Among all the situations that seems dim and not very promising, we have a light, which is the establishment of the Port of Chancay [in Peru]," said Hector Villagran Cepeda, Former Minister of Transportation and Public Works of Ecuador.

The release of shipping consensus, along with a variety of deals signed at the forum, sent out a clear message that the shipping industry calls for multilateralism rather than economic decoupling, said the guests attending the event.

Global shipping giants urge economic and political stability to boost trade flow

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that Iran has obtained extensive documents and evidence linking the recent unrest across the country to the U.S. and Israel, noting that Mossad agents attempted to direct such "terrorist acts."

Araghchi said at a press conference in Tehran that since Dec 28, 2025, Iran had seen peaceful demonstrations organized by industry associations and economic professional. In the following days, more participants joined, and the situation gradually escalated from peaceful rallies into violent clashes.

Beginning on Jan 8, terrorists and armed groups carrying weapons entered protest sites and opened fire on police and civilians, with the aim of steering demonstrations toward violence, bloodshed and chaos, he said.

"Israeli media reports are rife with claims that Israel has designed and conducted operations in Iran. Mr. [Mike] Pompeo, who was Trump's CIA director, said on his X that 'Happy New Year to every Iranian in the streets. Also to every Mossad agent walking beside them.' This clearly shows that Mossad agents attempted to direct such terrorist acts," the minister said. Addressing military threats from the U.S. and Israel, Araghchi said Iran does not seek war but is fully prepared to face up to war. He added that Iran is ready for serious and pragmatic negotiations with the U.S., but the talks must be based on fairness, equality and mutual respect, rather than unilateral pressure or directives from Washington.

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the U.S. and Israel at a regular press briefing in Tehran. He said the two countries have made "extensive interventionist remarks" regarding Iran's situation, saying such statements are intended to foment chaos, violence and instability.

The spokesman said Iran is closely monitoring the development of the situation and remains fully prepared, warning that Iran's armed forces will respond to any act of aggression by its enemies.

Mossad agents attempt to direct terrorist acts: Iranian FM