Shandong Port Group Co Ltd, a State-owned port operator, has broken the world record of automatic terminal handling efficiency for the ninth time by using its self-developed new generation of a terminal intelligent control system, said a delegate to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Relying on independent innovation, Shandong Port Group has built an automated terminal with the world's fastest loading and unloading speed. There are no workers needed on the dock and all the equipment can be operated automatically, said Zhang Liangang, a senior expert of the Qingdao-headquartered group, after the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the CPC in Beijing on Saturday.

"Because of the extreme complexity to build an automated terminal control system, the group's research teams have held more than 3,000 seminars to make detailed plans for this project. Many of them even discussed the technical issues in the middle of the night," he said, adding the company has not only achieved its goals, but its system is also more advanced and smarter than its foreign rivals.

"We will continue to follow the path led by independent innovation, focus on key issues, gather wisdom, make breakthroughs, and make greater contributions to build China into a strong transportation and maritime country," he added.