On April 11, 2011, led by Secretary-General Zhen Hong and Deputy Secretary-General Li Gang, relevant personnel of Shanghai International Shipping Institute (SISI) conducted a field investigation and research on cruise economic development in Baoshan District of Shanghai. Accompanied by Wang Younong, Secretary of Party Committee of Baoshan District Development and Reform Commission, Xu Linbin Director of Binjiang Construction Committee of Baoshan District, Kang Rui, Deputy Director of Baoshan District Development and Reform Commission, and Lu Mingqi, President of Wusongkou International Cruise Development Co., Ltd., the SISI group visited Paotaiwan Wetland Park, Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal, and Shanghai Songhu War Memorial Hall, obtaining a knowledge of the cruise economy development in Baoshan District.

Picture 1: SISI’s experts made field investigation on the construction of Wusongkou Cruise Terminal

After concluding the investigation at 15:30, SISI’s experts exchanged with relevant leaders of Baoshan District government and Wusongkou International Cruise Development Co., Ltd.

Picture 2: At the exchange meeting

According to President Lu Mingqi of Wusongkou International Cruise Development Co., Ltd., Binjiang of Baoshan District is undergoing rapid and orderly development and construction, based on the layout of “one combination port, two functional zones, and three kinds of service areas”. As a cluster area providing water-related tourism services, the industrial positioning of Binjiang shall be integrated appropriately with its functional orientation so as to achieve interactive development. Mr. Lu said that Binjiang aims to be built into a kernel carrier of Shanghai Northeast Asian cruise industry, a distribution center of tourism in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta, and an important support for functional improvement of Shanghai International Shipping Center. He expected Baoshan District Government, Wusongkou International Cruise Development Co., Ltd. and SISI to form an effective linkage mechanism, strengthen mutual exchanges and cooperation, and promote further development of Binjiang of Baoshan District.

At the meeting, Director Lu Jigang, Party Secretary Wang Younong and Deputy Director Kang Rui of Baoshan District Development and Reform Commission gave a brief introduction to the cruise development in Baoshan District. Mr. Lu Jigang said that, with the adjustments of three port zones in Baoshan during the 11th Five-year Plan, the number of container trunks decreased significantly. Boasting beautiful natural environment and green area of 22 m2 per capita, Baoshan District is perfect for the development of the cruise industry. Mr. Wang Younong stated that, by virtue of geographical advantages and valuable development opportunities, Baoshan District enjoys many advantaged superiority in building cruise home-port. Mr. Kang Rui put forward an idea on the pilot project of the comprehensive reform and demonstration zone for Shanghai international cruise, which involves preferential tax, cruise finance, facilitation in customs clearance and other related policies.

After listening to the introduction, SISI’s experts also put forth their own suggestions and views. Secretary-General Zhen Hong proposed in four aspects. Firstly, to build a functional city within the zone, which means to create a cruise city in the comprehensive reform zone, and expand the international influence of Wusongkou cruise terminal through the improvement and enrichment of connotations. Secondly, the promotion of the cruise industry in Baoshan shall be coordinated with Shanghai’s cruise industry development. Thirdly, the policies on shipping demand differ from those on cruise industry demand. The development of the cruise industry needs to be backed up by good products. Fourthly, cruise economic development plays an important part in the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center. Mutual development will be achieved through the expanded cooperation with relevant advisory organizations.

In addition, Deputy Director Cheng Juehao of SISI Cruise Development Institute analyzed the status quo of the cruise industry and the construction of Baoshan Wusongkou cruise terminal. He expressed his views and made interactive exchanges with other participants.

SISI’s visit to Baoshan District for field investigation and research on the development of Wusongkou cruise terminal marks a good start for future cooperation between Baoshan District and SISI.