On the morning of June 24, the State Council Information Office of the P.R.C. held a press conference, in which Zhao Chongjiu, Vice Minister of Ministry of Transport (MOT), pointed out that the Maritime Day of China Forum is a national home event of the Maritime Day of China on July 11 every year. The Forum this year will be held in Kunming, Yunnan Province on July 11. Zhang Bin, Executive Vice Mayer of Yunnan Province, introduced the progress of the preparations for the 2021 Maritime Day of China; Cao Desheng, Director of the Maritime Safety Bureau of MOT, presented the development of the crew; and Yi Jiyong, Deputy Director of the Waterway Transport Bureau of MOT, explained the key work of promoting the high-quality development of waterway transport.
July 11 this year is the 17th National Maritime Day of China with the theme “Starting a New Voyage for Navigating, Creating Together a New Future for Shipping”. On that day, the 2021 Maritime Day of China Forum will be held in Kunming. The forum will be co-sponsored by China Institute of Navigation, the Kunming Municipal People’s Government, China Waterborne Transport Research Institute and China Communications Construction Group Co., Ltd., and be attended by more than 600 guests from the national competent departments of transportation, port and shipping logistics enterprises, industry experts and scholars. It is comprised of the opening ceremony and main forum, as well as six sub-forums, including the China International Seafarer Forum, the Collaborative Governance and Development Forum for Drainage Basins and Sea Areas, the High-quality Development Forum for Inland Navigation, the Port and Shipping Enterprises Development Forum, the China International Ship Technology and Safety Forum and the Navigation Culture Forum. In accordance with the requirements of epidemic prevention and control, foreign guests of the “Belt & RoadInitiative" were invited to participate in the forums online.
During the forum, Jinning District of Kunming will also hold Kunming 2021 Zheng He Cultural Tourism Festival with the theme “Raising the Sails of the Times, Opening a New Chapter of the Silk Road”. There will be a “Riding the Wind and Breaking the Waves, Carrying Forward the Past and Forging Ahead into the Future -- Zheng He Navigation Stamp Exhibition” in Jinning District Museum (Zheng He Memorial), and “My Heartfelt Songs for the Party -- Zheng He Cup National Singer Competition by Jinning District to Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China” in Zheng He Cultural Square and other mass cultural activities.
It is reported that a series of commemorative activities will be held on the Maritime Day. On July 11, the Organizing Committee of Maritime Day of China will issue the Announcement of 2021 Maritime Day of China to the whole society; on the same day, the ships owned or operated by Chinese shipping enterprises will be dressed full, and whistle for one minute at 9 a.m., and the relevant maritime institutions will hang flags accordingly.
Zhao Chongjiu pointed out, the Maritime Day this year in Kunming is featured by the following four points:
First, it will focus on the nautical spirit of the new era. The nautical spirit is embodied specifically in such strongest voices of the times as pioneering and enterprising, unity and cooperation, reform and innovation, openness and tolerance, scientific navigation, and patriotism and dedication. The 21st century is the century of ocean, and the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, has established a strategic relationship between the comprehensive management of the ocean and the realization of the Chinese Dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. According to the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, it is required to adhere to the coordinated development of land and marine and rapid development of the construction of a maritime power. The maritime industry in the new era cannot be separated from the support of nautical spirit, and the great practice of all seafarers in the new era has enriched the spirit with elements of the new era.
Second, it will add the theme of high-quality development of inland navigation and coordinated development of drainage basins and sea areas. Based on the new practice of market subjects, the new types of industry, the new exploration of industry management, the development trend and path of shipping intelligence, the construction, popularization and application of digital channels, green shipping and intelligent services, the supporting role of inland shipping in regional economic and social development and other aspects, the current situation and problems can be analyzed, so as to make a plan for the high-quality development of inland navigation. The theme of boosting the coordinated management of drainage basins and sea areas and promoting the sustainable development of river, lake and sea is set to deeply analyze the comprehensive treatment and development strategies of river, lake and sea environment, and experts, scholars and industry elites will be invited to conduct research, analysis and suggestions accordingly.
Third, Zheng He’s hometown is chosen as the host place to attach special meaning to the festival. According to research, Zheng He was born in Kunyang street in Jinning District of Kunming in 1371. He had made seven voyages to the West, reaching Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa, exploring the marine transportation, expanding the scope of China’s diplomatic relations, and enhancing the understanding and communication between the Ming Dynasty and Asian and African countries. His voyages were 87 years earlier than Columbus’ discovery of the New World, 92 years earlier than Dagmar’s arrival in India around the Cape of Good Hope, and 116 years earlier than Magellan’s sailing around the world to reach the Philippines. Zheng He’s spirit of pioneering, openness, tolerance, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes has been inspiring the Chinese nation and the Chinese people to keep exploring and moving forward.
Fourth, the second volume of Ships of China will be released on that day. This book includes key ships owned by Chinese institutions and ship owners from 1986 to 2020, mainly selecting “experienced ships”, advanced ships and first-built ships in different types, waters and periods as representatives. The book presents the glorious course and great creation of China’s ships through the overview of ship types, beautiful pictures and brief parameters. Thus, it is a book valuable for professional research and the popularization of ship knowledge. (From Li Siying)