The 2024 North Bund Forum opens at the Grand Halls in Shanghai on Oct 22, 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The 2024 North Bund Forum, an annual gathering of the international shipping industry, began in Shanghai on Oct 22.
The three-day event has brought together 150 representatives from leading maritime and aviation enterprises and institutions to explore the future direction of the industry and bolster exchange and collaboration within the international shipping sector.
During the opening ceremony, the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government signed the “Memorandum of Cooperation on Building a Global Leading International Shipping Center”.
The document outlines joint initiatives in port construction, elevating shipping service capabilities, promoting sustainable and intelligent development of the shipping industry, and enhancing the influence of Shanghai as an international shipping center.
The two main forums on the afternoon of Oct 22 focused on navigating high-quality development in the shipping industry amid uncertainties and steering the digital and intelligent transformation of civil aviation.
In the following two days, the forum will discuss maritime traffic safety, finance and insurance, digitalization and intelligence, green and low-carbon initiatives, and legal affairs and arbitration.
Hu Hao, a professor with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, emphasized the importance of China playing a more active role in shaping international maritime regulations.
He highlighted the recent establishment of a joint research center for international maritime rules and standards by China COSCO Shipping Corporation and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, expressing hopes for increased collaboration between the school and international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization.
Sandy Chan, managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, underscored the immense potential for collaboration between Shanghai Port and Hong Kong Port in green shipping, emphasizing the need for unified standards and testing protocols for green energy applications globally.
She emphasized that by jointly developing regulations in this area, both ports can not only benefit China but also contribute to the broader global community.
Chan further noted the complementary strengths of Shanghai and Hong Kong in ensuring the safe operation of green vessels, with Shanghai providing skilled professionals and Hong Kong excelling in ship management.
The collaboration, she believes, can pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient future in the shipping industry, benefiting not only the two ports but the entire international maritime sector.
,https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Latest-WhatsNew/20241023/3feabff79e5646e4ac0cc4a64454e0b3.html