A large number of trade organizations in relation to ports and shipping gather in Shanghai. Serving as bridges linking enterprises with governments, trade organizations play a positive role in "providing services, reflecting demands and standardizing behaviors", etc. Compared with trade organizations in such regions as Singarpore, those in Shanghai will play a more positive role in promoting the development of modern shipping service systems, improving shipping services and developing high-end international shipping talents in the new historical context of the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center.

In this regard, SISI held the First Salon for Secretaries-General of Shanghai's Trade organizations of the Shipping Industry on October 16, 2009. This was the first time for Shanghai's trade organizations of the shipping industry to meet together in a salon, discussing ways to play a bigger role in the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center.

Presided over by Deputy Secretary-General Li Gang of SISI, the salon featured the address by Vice President Huang Youfang of Shanghai Maritime University and the presence of 12 shipping industry organizations in Shanghai, including Shanghai Ports Federation, Shanghai Transportation Trade Association, Shanghai Shipowners' Association, and Shanghai Navigation Institute. Participating representatives discussed and passed the "Proposal for Bringing Trade organizations of the Shipping Industry into Full Play in the Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center" (the Proposal), suggesting relevant departments of Shanghai Municipal Government to take the development of shipping industry organizations as an important task during the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center, establish a joint conference system for Shanghai's shipping industry organizations, and organize the Salon on a regular basis. After the salon, the Proposal will be submitted to relevant government departments for examination and approval.