Sailing for writing a new chapter and striving together for a better future

     With the sound of whistles, dressing ships navigate choppy waves, which marked the coming of the 19th China Maritime Day at 9:00 am on July 11. China Maritime Forum 2023, with the theme “Sailing for the new maritime silk road and heading towards the new development paradigm” was held in Cangzhou, Hebei province. Li Xiaopeng, secretary of the Party Leadership Group and minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Wang Zhengpu, vice-secretary of Hebei Provincial Committee of the CPC and the governor of Hebei Province, Zhang Guihua, member of Party Leadership Group of China Association for Science and Technology and secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Kang Yanmin, vice-president of Hebei Provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference and secretary of Cangzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC attended and addressed the forum. Hu Qisheng, vice-governor of Hebei Provincial People's Government, Yangbing, vice-mayor of Tianjin Municipal People's Government, Liu Guoyue, secretary of the Party Leadership Group and chairman of the China Energy Investment Corporation, Major General Liu Tianming, vice-chief of the Naval Staff, and Li Tianbi, chief engineer of Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China, director of Water Transport Bureau, and office director of the Committee of China Maritime Day attend the forum.

     Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization(IMO), and Hisham Hilal, secretary-general of The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale sent video messages. Fu Xuyin, vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Wanmin, chairman and secretary of the Party Leadership Group of COSCO SHIPPING, Wang Haihuai, deputy secretary of the party committee and general manager of CHINA COMMUNICATIONS CONSTRUCTION, academician Zhang Jianyun and Yan Xinping, and Kang Fengwei, general manager assistant of China Energy Investment Corporation made keynote speeches. Makoto Inoue, chairman of the Japan Institute of Navigation made a video speech.

He Jianzhong, chairman of China Institute of Navigation

Liu shubin, director of China Waterborne Transport Research Institute

     The first stage of the forum was hosted by He Jianzhong, chairman of China Institute of Navigation, and the second stage was hosted by Liu shubin, director of China Waterborne Transport Research Institute.

     Huang Zhendong, former minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Li Shenglin, former minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China, Weng Mengyong, former vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China and the chairman of the China Highway and Transportation Society, Gao Hongfeng, former vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China and the president of the China Express Association, Xu Zuyuan, former vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China and the goodwill ambassador of the IMO, Ren Maodong, executive deputy director of China Cares For the Next Generation Working Committee, Xu Lirong, former chairman of COSCO SHIPPING, Duan Zhaoxian, vice-chief of staff of PLA Navy, Zhu Haowen, secretary-general of Hebei Provincial People's Government, Huang Xiaoping, director of the General Office of the Ministry of Transport, Song Rentang, secretary of the Party Leadership Group and the director general of the Department of communications and transportation of Hebei province, Feng Boming, vice-general manager of CHINA MERCHANTS GROUP and chairman of Sinotrans, Zhang Jianyun, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and honorary president of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Yan Xinping, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and chair professor of Wuhan University of Technology, and Hu Yaan, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief engineer of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute attended the forum.

     The main forum also specially invited representatives of relevant international organizations and countries, such as the former president of the World Maritime University, executive director of International Shipping Council, executive director of Myanmar Maritime Bureau and president of Philippine Seafarers Association.

Li Xiaopeng, secretary of the Party Leadership Group and minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China

During the speech, Li Xiaopeng extended greetings to marine-related workers such as ships’ crew, ocean engineers, military and police officers. He has pointed out that this forum marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and invited all parties to discuss the development of shipping industry, which can be of great significance to take advantage of shipping in the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, promote the high quality development of shipping, better ensure the stability and smooth flow of the global logistics supply chains, help build a new development pattern and accelerate the recovery of world economy and trade.

Keep the entrustment in mind and work hard to be a pioneer of Chinese modernization

Li Xiaopeng stressed that General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the development of transportation industry. He has personally visited and inspected transportation front lines such as ports and shipping for many times and gave a series of important instructions, and this has pointed out the way ahead and provided fundamental guidelines for advancing the development of transport and shipping. Therefore, we should gain an insight into the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s instructions, and fully implement them in our new journey of striving to build our country into one with strong transportation network and be a pioneer of Chinese modernization. First, we should adhere to the leading position of innovation and build a smart shipping industry. We should also accelerate the digital transformation, vigorously develop smart ports, smart channels and smart ships to create new driving forces and advantages for shipping development. Second, we must stay committed to transformation and upgrading, and build a green shipping industry. We should also facilitate the application of new and clean energy, coordinate the development of green ports, green ships, green waterways and green transport organizations, and accelerate the construction of a green transport system. Third, we should uphold bottom-line thinking and build a safe shipping industry. We will continue to improve the safety level of transport infrastructure and equipment, and resolutely prevent major and serious accidents from occurring. Fourth, we should adhere to coordination and integration and build an efficient shipping industry. We should focus on networking and shoring up weak links in the networks and industrial chains, speed up the construction of modern water transport infrastructure system, facilitate the coordinated development of water transport and other modes of transportation, and promote port transformation and upgrading and high quality development.   Fifth, we should stick to the concept that transportation can help connect the whole world and build an opening shipping industry. We should strengthen the physical connectivity of infrastructure and institutional connectivity of rules and standards between us and countries and regions along the Belt and Road, and improve the level of international transportation facilitation. We will give full play to the role of the China Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center platform, hold the Global Sustainable Transport Summit Forum (2023), and expand new space for international cooperation in transportation.  

Fu Xuyin, member of the Party Leadership Group and vice-minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China

     Work unremittingly and play a vital role in building ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative together

     Fu Xuyin said that 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The transportation industry has played an important role both in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and in fostering an open world economy, and as a result accumulated valuable experience for the development of the shipping industry by taking active actions over the past 10 years.

     First, serving socio-economic development and keeping the overall situation of foreign trade stable have always been the original aspiration and mission of the shipping industry. The shipping industry has actively responded to the needs of socio-economic development and international trade, fully implemented the major national strategies and made continuous efforts to improve service guarantee capabilities. By the end of 2022, the capacity of our maritime fleets had reached 370 million deadweight tons, double that of ten years ago, ranking the second in the world in terms of fleet size, and the modernization level of fleets has been remarkably improved. Shipping has account for about 95% of our freight volume of foreign trade cargoes, and played a vital role of ensuring the development of national economy and foreign trade.

     Second, building a well-laid and efficient infrastructure system has always been solid foundation of the sustainable development of the shipping industry. We have increased investment in infrastructure construction, worked hard to shore up weak links in infrastructure, and strengthened the resilience of facility networks. Steady progress was made in building world-class ports and high-class shipping lanes with four vertical and horizontal and two networks. Major coastal cargo transportation systems and main inland channels are generally stable and smooth. In 2022, the cargo throughput of China's ports reached 15.68 billion tons, and the container throughput reached nearly 300 million TEUs, an increase of 33% and 56% over ten years ago respectively, becoming an essential force that serves socio-economic development.

     Third, building a perfect shipping service network has always been a significant advantage of the shipping industry. In the past 10 years, China has established connections in ship routes with more than 100 countries and regions, covering all coastal countries and regions along the “Belt and Road” Initiate. Service networks have been continuously improved and the maritime connectivity is leading in the world. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China's restoration of its legitimate seat in the IMO. Over the past 50 years, China has been elected A-level council member state of the IMO for 17 consecutive years, and we have provided Chinese wisdom to international shipping governance.

 Fourth, maintaining the stability and smooth flow of the logistics supply chains has always been the responsibility of the shipping industry. In the face of the sudden outbreak COVID-19 pandemic, the shipping industry fully implemented the strategy of "prevent both imported cases and domestic resurgences", coordinated the prevention and control of the epidemic and the protection of waterway transport, built a strong waterway epidemic prevention and control barrier, organized key material transport vessels to implement the "four-priority" measures, and ensured that export goods can go out and import goods can come in. Therefore, it has played a positive role in fighting against the epidemic, promoting trade recovery, and maintaining the stability of industrial and supply chains.

  Promote high-quality development of shipping industry and work to build a new development pattern

     According to Fu Xuyin, China has embarked on a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist country. The shipping industry should serve the construction of a new development pattern, so we should promote the high-quality development of the shipping industry and strive to take the lead in accelerating the construction of a country with strong transportation network and working hard to be a pioneer in modernization of China.

     First, we should focus on building first-class infrastructure and transportation equipment, continue to follow the path of laying the groundwork, and gather new momentum for the development of the shipping industry. It includes building modern port and shipping infrastructure systems, building world-class shipping fleets, and ensuring stable and smooth logistics supply chains.

     Second, we should focus on deepening connectivity, continue to follow the path of opening-up and cooperation, and explore new horizons of the development of the shipping industry. It includes strengthening the physical connectivity of infrastructure and institutional connectivity of rules and standards, and building global shipping hubs.

     Third, we should focus on improving the green and low-carbon smart level , continue to follow the path of innovation-driven development, and shape the new advantages of the shipping industry development. It includes promoting the comprehensive green and low-carbon transformation of the shipping industry and facilitating the digital and intelligent transformation of the shipping industry.

     Fourth, we should focus on improving risk prevention capabilities, continue to follow the path of safe development, and build a strong safety barrier for the shipping industry development. It includes preventing and resolving safety production risks and marine pollution risks.
     More efforts in ship pollution prevention are made, and global shipping has entered a new era of emission reduction.

     Shipping industry plays an important role in the international supply chain, but the environmental pollution caused by ship emissions has been a concern of the international community for a long time.

     The IMO has been committed to promoting the concept of energy conservation and emission reduction in the global shipping industry. To address the impact made by the shipping industry on the environment, IMO has developed the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). This year marks the 50th anniversary of MARPOL, so we chose "MARPOL’s 50th anniversary - We will always keep our promise" as the theme of World Maritime Day 2023. Last week, the IMO officially adopted the Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships 2023, marking a new era of global shipping emissions reduction.

     IMO will actively promote the decarbonization of the shipping industry and support innovation and research of low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels, so as to achieve the ambitious goals of the Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships 2023.

     This year marks the 50th anniversary of China's accession to the IMO. The IMO will deepen cooperation with the Chinese government to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the international shipping industry.

     Eight of our ports ranked top ten in the world in terms of throughput in 2022, showing the strong power of our shipping industry

     The Report on China’s Shipping Development is an annual publication compiled by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange under the organization of the Ministry of Transport, and it has become an excellent literature that shows development achievements of China's shipping industry and strengthens international exchanges.

     According to the "The Report on China’s Shipping Development 2022" released on the main forum, over the past year, the pace of national major water transport infrastructure construction has been accelerated, and waterway fixed asset investment has increased by 10.9% year on year. The achievements of smooth transportation policy has been consolidated, and Waterway freight volume, port cargo throughput, and port container throughput year on year increased by 3.8%, 0.9%, and 4.7% respectively. Among the top 10 ports in the world in terms of cargo and container throughput, China takes up eight and seven seats respectively. The green and smart transformation of ports and shipping was accelerated, and the railway-river combined transportation volume increased by 16.0% year on year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, waterway transportation has always remained smooth and efficient, which fully demonstrates our strong power, effectively ensures the safe, smooth and stable transportation of imported food, energy and resources, and the security of the industrial and supply chains.

     Uphold the Silk Road spirit, and promote green, low-carbon and high-quality development of shipping industry

     In the second stage of the main forum, leaders and experts made wonderful speeches around the theme of the forum.

Wanmin, chairman and secretary of the Party Leadership Group of COSCO SHIPPING

In the speech entitled "Conforming to the green, low-carbon and intelligent trend, empowering the New Silk Road and building a new development pattern", Wanmin stressed the importance of the shipping industry in supporting the development of the national economy and serving the national strategies and the economic industry globalization, and looked forward to the future development direction from the perspective of building the global digital supply chain service ecology and promoting the green, low-carbon and high-quality development of shipping industry.

Wang Haihuai, deputy secretary of the party committee, director and general manager of CHINA COMMUNICATIONS CONSTRUCTION

In the speech entitled "Laying the foundation for Development, Leading the Future, and showing shipping Power in the Construction of the Belt and Road" Initiative, Wang Haihuai shared the progresses and endeavors made by the company CHINA COMMUNICATIONS CONSTRUCTION, which，as an extra- large sea-related state-owned enterprise under the supervision of SASAC, keeps in mind the mission that turns our country into a shipping power, actively takes advantage of layout advantages of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, keeps up with the pace of the times, gives full play to the advantages of the company as a main force of port and shipping construction, and helps China turn into a shipping power from a large shipping country. The company also follows the pulse of the times, leads the new trend of shipping development in a green, low-carbon and intelligent manner, bravely undertake the mission of the times, promote the high-quality development of the shipping industry in the spirit of the silk road.

Zhang Jianyun, academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and expert in Hydrology and Water Resources

In the speech entitled "Innovation Promotes the Protection and Coordinated Development of Deep-water Channel", Academician Zhang Jianyun introduced a practical case that innovation supports the ecological environment protection of the Yangtze River Deep-water Channel Projects below Nanjing. Aiming at the problem that how to coordinate ecological protection and economic development, he also offered suggestions that we can promote the ecological protection and coordinated development of Deep-water Channel through technological innovation.

Yan Xinping, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering and director and professor of academic board of Wuhan University of Technology

In the speech entitled "Research Status and Development Prospects of Waterway Transport Control", Academician Yan Xinping introduced the technological changes faced by waterway transport control, and there is an urgent need to realize autonomy and control in the core equipment and system of it. He also introduced the direction and tasks of the national key laboratory of waterway transport control, and looked forwarded to the future application of its technology.

Kang Fengwei, general manager assistant of China Energy Investment Corporation

In the speech entitled "Serving as the cornerstone of energy, leading the world, and promoting high-quality development of port and shipping in intelligent and green manner", Kang Fengwei introduced that over the years, CHINA ENERGY INVESTMENT has been committed to leading the integration of industrial chains in an operation mode that integrates coal, electricity, transportation, road, ports and shipping, and promoted the integration of supply chain by developing multi-modal transportation of highway, railway, and waterway in a large scale. It has also advanced integration of innovation chain by speeding up the construction of the source of original technology, accelerated the integration of data chain by developing transportation industry in an intelligent way and promoting digital transformation, and given the momentum to integration of value chain with the management of world-class enterprises. By making these efforts, it has achieved the "five chain integration", namely the integration of industrial chain, supply chain, innovation chain, data chain and value chain, and so effectively enhanced the security level of the national energy industrial chain and supply chain, taking the responsibility of being the "stabilizer" and "ballast stone" of our country.

Makoto Inoue, Chairman of the Japan Institute of Navigation

During video speech, Makoto Inoue stressed the significant meaning of protecting marine environment and pointed out that we should pay attention to new technology application and new energy development. We are willing to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the world and contribute to the navigation industry.

 Kang Yanmin, vice-president of Hebei Provincial People’s Political Consultative Conference and secretary of Cangzhou Municipal Committee of the CPC

     Forging ahead, and Cangzhou will develop and become stronger by strengthening its maritime power

     Kang Yanmin pointed out that Cangzhou, an open coastal city determined by the State Council, located on the edge of Bohai Bay, is an essential part of the circum-bohai sea economic zone and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan area, having prominent coastal advantages. Cangzhou has a solid foundation of industry and a long history of more than 1,500 years and culture. The Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, one of the world cultural heritages, flows 216 kilometers through the city. The city also has rich maritime culture, and the historic site of Haifeng Town, the northern starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, is located in nowhere but Cangzhou.

     Kang Yanmin said that president Xi Jinping visited Hebei and then Cangzhou on May 11 and 12 and gave the important instructions to build Huanghua Port into a " comprehensive and modern large port with multiple functions", and put forward clear requirements for the planning and construction of Huanghua Port. China Maritime Week 2023 was held in Cangzhou, and it also shows our salute to history. At the new historical starting point, Cangzhou is unswervingly following the direction of Xi Jinping’s guidance, emancipating mind, working hard and forging ahead, developing and becoming stronger by strengthening its maritime power, and it’s also contributing its power to accelerating the construction of a strong coastal economic city and achieving Chinese modernization in Hebei.

Wang Zhengpu, vice-secretary of Hebei Provincial Committee of the CPC and the governor of Hebei Province

     Wang Zhengpu pointed out that the shipping industry is the bridge and bond of international trade, and the ocean is the blue engine of economic development. As a coastal province with a coastline of 487 kilometers, Hebei enjoys unique advantages on the basis of developing ocean shipping, marine economy and port industries. In recent years, Hebei has fully implemented the maritime power strategy, jointly built the "Belt and Road" Initiative and well coordinated the port resources in Qinhuangdao, Tangshan and Cangzhou by taking advantages of its rich marine resources, excellent port conditions, unique geographical advantages and perfect industrial foundation, so that they can complement each other, develop and become stronger by strengthening maritime power.

     Wang Zhengpu stressed that Hebei should deepen the implementation of Xi Jinping’s instructions, and ensure energy security, promote the transformation and upgrading of ports, improve the top-level design, optimize the functional layout and strengthen the integration of resources according to the deployment of the 14th Plenary Session of the Provincial Party Committee. By making these efforts can we accelerate the high-quality ports development, and turn the blueprint that Xi Jinping has made into a beautiful reality step by step.

On the main forum, according to the Decision on Commending the 2023 National May Day Labor Award and the National Pioneer Workers issued by All-China Federation of Trade Unions, there were four sea-related units such as NINGBO ZHOUSHAN PORT CO., LTD. received May Day Labor Merit Certificate, and 11 individuals such as Zhu Junan, captain in CHINESE-POLISH JOINT STOCK SHIPPING COMPANY received May Day Labor Medals, and there were also 25 grassroots groups such as HZC Network Information System Team in China Ship Research and Development Academy( the Seventh Academy of CHINA STATE SHIPBUILDING CORPORATION LIMITED) received the title of Pioneer Workers.

Before the launching ceremony, Li Xiaopeng toured the Maritime science and technology expo. As one of the main activities of China Maritime Week 2023, Maritime science and technology expo was held by both China Institute of Navigation and Cangzhou Municipal People’s Government. We regard scientific and technological innovation in upstream and downstream industries in navigation and related fields as the mainline, showing the development and the latest achievements of our shipping industry through physical models, graphic display boards and videos, thus build an international comprehensive maritime science and technology exchange platform. We also combine the new achievements, products and technologies of Cangzhou's marine economy industry and inland shipping development, and jointly build a deep integrated channel of government, industry, university, research, investment, service and application, so as to promote the navigation technology innovation and product upgrade, popularize navigation culture and enhance public awareness of navigation and the ocean.