Santos and Chinese district sign cooperation agreement during international mission

Bruno Orlandi and Deng Feibo sign agreement; speeches point toward the joint creation of opportunities (Alexandre Lopes/AT)

One of the most significant moments of the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar 2026 took place this Monday (1), in Shenzhen, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Municipality of Santos and the Yantian District, one of the most strategic regions of the Chinese economy and home to one of the world’s largest container terminals.

The ceremony was held at the Yantian administrative complex and brought together Brazilian and Chinese authorities in an environment marked by diplomatic symbolism and the strengthening of relations between the two countries.

Representing the City of Santos, Municipal Secretary for Port Affairs and Employment Bruno Orlandi signed the document alongside Zhang Xionghan, Deputy Mayor of Yantian District, formally establishing the beginning of an institutional cooperation focused on the exchange of experiences, economic development, and closer ties between the two cities.

The ceremony was also attended by Deng Feibo, Mayor of Yantian District; Adilson Júnior, President of the Santos City Council; representatives of the National Waterway Transportation Agency (Antaq); the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU); the Santos Port Authority (APS); as well as business leaders and members of the Missão Internacional Porto & Mar.

Prior to the signing, participants watched institutional videos showcasing the characteristics, strengths, and projects of both cities. The presentations highlighted common features between the municipalities, particularly their strong connection to port activities, logistics, and international trade.

During the speeches, Chinese authorities emphasized the strategic importance of their relationship with Brazil and expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Santos in the coming years. The prevailing message focused on the joint creation of opportunities, knowledge sharing, and the strengthening of institutional ties between the two regions.

Port connection

Although separated by more than 18,000 kilometers, Santos and Yantian share characteristics that bring their development paths closer together. Santos is home to the largest port in the Southern Hemisphere and plays a fundamental role in the Brazilian economy.

Yantian, in turn, is located in the city of Shenzhen, one of China’s leading economic and technological hubs, and hosts a terminal that handles more than 16 million TEUs annually, ranking among the largest in the world.

Like Santos, Yantian has built much of its identity around maritime activities, logistics, and international trade. The Chinese district also stands out for its strategic location, directly connected to Hong Kong and integrated into the Greater Bay Area, one of Asia’s most economically dynamic regions.

Cooperation for the future

More than a ceremonial act, the memorandum establishes a permanent channel of dialogue between the public administrations of the two cities. The expectation is that the agreement will facilitate future cooperation initiatives in areas such as logistics, economic development, innovation, technology, urban planning, sustainability, and investment attraction.

Throughout the ceremony, Chinese representatives repeatedly reaffirmed their willingness to work jointly with Santos and to expand the existing institutional and commercial relations between the two regions.

For members of the mission, the agreement symbolizes one of the principal legacies of the trip organized by Grupo Tribuna . In addition to technical visits and direct contact with some of the world’s largest companies and logistics infrastructures, the mission has also fostered the creation of institutional connections capable of generating tangible opportunities for the Baixada Santista region in the coming years.

At the end of the ceremony, authorities from both countries exchanged institutional gifts. The event concluded with a dinner attended by both delegations.

List of gifts presented during the signing of the memorandum

Brazil

• Deng Feibo • Marcos Bemquerer • Alber Vasconcelos • Caio Leoncio • Bruno Orlandi • Adilson Júnior • Maxwell Rodrigues • Alexandre Lopes • Claudio Bastos • Demetrio Amono • Gabriela Scarduelli • Bruno Stupello • Claudia Borges • Erick Aeck • Giovanni Borlenghi • Heber Borlenghi • Keyla Boaventura • Luis Floriano • Luiz Claudio Simões • Otávio Grottone • Ricardo Miranda • Rui Klein • Washington Flores • Roberto Clemente Santini • Marcelo Scherrer • Luciana Guerise • Rogério Oliveira • Eduardo Freire • Frederico Cypriano • Patrícia Oliveira • Renata Santini Cypriano

China

• Xiao Kai • Zhang Xionghan • Peng Zhihong • Xiong Linglin • Hou Guihong • Wang Qian • Lan Yunfeng • Zhang Zhi • Pan Haihui • Luo Binbin • Chen Zhenbo • Han Shanshan • Liang Xueping • Xia Zeliang • Zhou Tingda • Hu Chuzhen • Zhong Hongmei • Wang Jia • Gong Renmin

Bruno Orlandi, Claudio Bastos and Maxwell Rodrigues (Reproduction)

“We have seen here a good example of how we can pursue economic development, job creation, and cultural exchange. The Port of Yantian is fully automated and operates the world’s largest container terminal in terms of TEU throughput. This gives us the opportunity to continuously seek greater efficiency and quality for our city”, said Bruno Orlandi, Municipal Secretary for Port Affairs and Employment of Santos.

“At the Yantian Terminal, they are operating at the state of the art in terms of port practices. This includes sustainability initiatives, such as shore power supply for vessels. In terms of technology, there is a very high degree of terminal automation and productivity levels that are truly impressive”, said Claudio Bastos, Superintendent of Governance, Risk, and Compliance at APS.

“The signing of an agreement between the City of Santos and Yantian District further strengthens the relationship between Brazil and China. Technology is the agenda, technology is the future, and this is our path forward. The memorandum signed here brings development to Santos and promotes exchanges between authorities and stakeholders in the port sector”, said Maxwell Rodrigues, Port Affairs Consultant for Grupo Tribuna .