Mayor of Shanghai- Promote the comprehensive improvement of the energy level of Shanghai International Shipping Center

On October 22, the 2024 North Bund International Shipping Forum opened in Shanghai’s World Reception Hall, themed “Digital, Intelligent, Green – Building a New Global Shipping Ecology Together.”

Shanghai Municipal Party Secretary Chen Jining attended the opening ceremony and officially launched the forum. Liu Wei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Ministry of Transport, and Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng delivered speeches. They signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to establish a globally leading international shipping center, representing both the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai government.

According to the memorandum, the Ministry and the Shanghai government will cooperate in various areas, including the establishment of a global shipping hub, enhancing Shanghai’s shipping service capabilities, promoting green and smart development, increasing the influence of Shanghai’s international shipping center, and creating a collaborative advancement mechanism between the ministry and the city.

Liu Wei emphasized that China has developed into a country with the largest shipping facilities in the world, the highest volume of goods transported by sea, and a fleet that ranks among the top globally. He highlighted China’s significant advantages, which include a vast market scale, abundant technological applications, and a complete industrial chain. He noted that a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation is rapidly evolving, with digital economy and artificial intelligence emerging as essential supports for social and economic development, continually improving the levels of digitalization, intelligence, and greenness in shipping.

Mayor Gong Zheng pointed out that on the journey towards modernization with Chinese characteristics, Shanghai will focus on enhancing the global allocation capabilities of shipping resources. Efforts will be made to improve the systems of seaports, airports, cruise ports, and transportation logistics, while accelerating the closing of gaps in high-end shipping services. His goal is to facilitate the digital, intelligent, and green transformation of the shipping industry and to establish Shanghai as a highland for innovative high-end shipping services, digital transformation in shipping, and green shipping development. This is aimed at significantly elevating the status of Shanghai as an international shipping center.

During the opening event, representatives from leading global maritime and aviation enterprises and institutions announced more than ten new achievements centered on technological innovation and open collaboration. These included initiatives like the Green Shipping Cooperation between Shanghai Port and Hamburg Port to create a green shipping corridor, and the construction of an international air cargo hub by FedEx in Shanghai.