Vale's Tubarão Port in Brazil and Lianyungang Port in China signed an agreement yesterday to develop green technologies in their operations.

Under the agreement, both ports agreed to jointly increase the productivity of their operations, exchange knowledge on safety subject and develop technologies to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in their operations.

They will also work together to implement high productivity operation procedures, new world-class projects and green emissions and energy-related measures that aspire to become a global benchmark in the port industry, a statement of Vale said.

Luiz Fernando Landeiro, director of Tubarão Port, and Bai Liqun, Chairman of Lianyungang Port Group, signed the agreement.

Tubarão Port, located in southeastern Brazil, is responsible for handling 15% of Brazil's grain exports and 35% of Vale's iron ore export, while Lianyungang Port is among the top 20 ports in China in terms of cargo turnover, positioned by the Chinese Ministry of Transportation as an important port for the import of raw material, energy and coal.