With great attentions from shipping practitioners, the 2009 Shanghai International Shipping Forum was grandly held at Broadway Mansions on July 18. The forum was jointly organized by SISI, Hongkou District People's Government, and China Ports & Harbors Association, and co-organized by American Society of Transportation and Logistics (AST&L) and Shanghai Association of Productivity Science. Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. was the senior sponsor of this forum, with other sponsors including Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd., COSCO Container Lines Co., Ltd., Sinotrans Container Lines Co., Ltd., Seamaster Chartering Limited, RINA, and China-Japan International Ferry Co., Ltd. Distinguished guests present at the forum included Hu Wei, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress; Qian Yongchang, Chairman of China Communications and Transportation Association; Zhi Guanglu, Deputy Director of Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China; Prof. Yu Shicheng, President of Shanghai Maritime University; and Bao Jianqiang, Deputy District Mayor of Hongkou Shanghai.

The forum official started at 9:00 a.m. Hu Wei, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress; Qian Yongchang, Chairman of China Communications and Transportation Association; Zhi Guanglu, Deputy Director of Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China; Prof. Yu Shicheng, President of Shanghai Maritime University; Bao Jianqiang, Deputy District Mayor of Hongkou Shanghai; and other distinguished guests attended the forum.

?Hu Wei, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, attended the forum and delivered a congratulatory speech?

(Prof. Yu Shicheng, President of Shanghai Maritime University, delivered an opening speech)

The forum was filled with fascinating speeches, questions and discussions. Experts and practitioners expressed their views, having received warm responses. Speeches were first heard from Mr. Qian Yongchang, Chairman of China Communications and Transportation Association (former Minister of Transport), titled "Research on the Development Strategy of Chinese Shipping Industry under the Financial Crisis"; followed by "Carrying out Specialized Shipping Financial Services to Facilitate Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center" by Mr. Tong Xuewei, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Banking at Bank of Communications Co., Ltd. Yahalom Sam, Director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center of SUNY Maritime College, together with Chang Qian Guan, Professor of the Department of Marine Transportation at United States Merchant Marine Academy, discussed the "Outlook of Global Economy and Its Impact on Shipping".

(Qian Yongchang, Chairman of China Communications and Transportation Association [former Minister of Transport], made a keynote speech)

(Mr. Tong Xuewei, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Banking at Bank of Communications Co., Ltd.)

(Yahalom Sam, Director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center of SUNY Maritime College, delivered a speech)

(Chang Qian Guan, Professor of the Department of Marine Transportation at United States Merchant Marine Academy)

The afternoon session commenced with a speech titled "LNG Market and National Strategy" from international LNG expert Mr. Chefter Urban, followed by "Economic Crisis and Shipping Market Cycle" from Vice President Ma Shuo of World Maritime University. In his speech themed "Taking Advantages of Tumultuous Times: How Leading Companies Cope with Economic Crisis", Mr. Siu Fung Chan, Vice President of Monitor Group (China), put forth new arguments to encourage everyone to turn adversity into opportunity. Mr. Sun Yong, Expert Group Member of Liquidation Committee of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants presented "Strategy for Chinese Shipping and Port Enterprises to Go Public under the Influence of Financial Crisis".

(International LNG expert Mr. Chefter Urban)

(Mr. Ma Shuo, Vice President of World Maritime University, addressed the forum)

(Mr. Siu Fung Chan, Vice President of Monitor Group (China))

(Mr. Sun Yong, Expert Group Member of Liquidation Committee of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants)

Interspersed with questions and discussion from senior managers and researchers of shipping and port enterprises from all over the country, the speech section was pervaded with a warm atmosphere and ended amidst a shower of applause at about 17:00.

The participating delegates and guest speakers visited Yangshan Deepwater Port and the new campus of Shanghai Maritime University in the next morning. Then in the afternoon, some delegates and guest speakers held an informal meeting at the conference room of SISI, before bringing the 2009 Shanghai International Shipping Forum to a successful conclusion.

(Visiting the new campus of Shanghai Maritime University)

(The informal meeting at SISI conference room)