Darwin Port has expanded ties with China through a new “friendly cooperation” deal.

The Chinese-leased port has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shenzhen Port in southern China. 

The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration and trade between the two strategic maritime hubs.

“Darwin Port and Shenzhen Port have entered into a friendly non-binding MOU in order to establish a closer relationship between both ports and to further understand potential business opportunities for trade and development,” according to a statement from Darwin Port CEO Peter Dummett.

Dummett reportedly signed the MOU alongside Shenzhen Port representative Ms Cai Zheng in China's Guangdong province.

Shenzhen, one of the world’s busiest ports, connects over 100 international container routes, making this cooperation a significant trade opportunity.

This agreement comes amidst concerns over Chinese control of Darwin Port, leased to China’s Landbridge Group since 2015 for $506 million. 

The deal raised security worries in Australia and the United States, though a 2022 review by the Albanese government upheld the lease, citing sufficient regulatory oversight.

Reports say the MOU signals a push for deeper trade links between the ports, with “all-round in-depth exchanges and cooperation” expected soon.

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