On June 7, 2011, “2011 Decision-making Consultation of Shanghai Municipal Government - Expert Consultation Meeting on Special Research Project of Shanghai International Shipping Center” (hereinafter referred to as “2011 Shipping Research Project”) was held at the conference room on the 3rd floor of SISI. The Meeting featured the attendance of Ma Shuo, Vice President of World Maritime University; Zhu Jianhua, Inspector and Member of Party Leadership Group of Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority; Zhu Jinhai, Deputy Director of the Development Research Center of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Ying Mingyong, Deputy District Mayor of Hongkou District People’s Government; Wu Sugui, Division Chief of Scientific Research Division of the Development Research Center of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Li Chenxi, Deputy Division Chief of Transport Development Division of Shanghai Construction and Communications Commission; Wang Chuanxu, Professor of Shanghai Maritime University; Zhen Hong, Secretary-General of SISI; and Li Gang, Secretary and Deputy Secretary-General of SISI.

Mr. Zhen first introduced the background, research target and pre-research work for the selection of 2011 shipping-related research project (draft), and summarized the experience of 2010 Shipping Research Project. This was followed later by insightful opinions and suggestions from all participating experts on the selection of 2011 shipping-related research project, based on the 12th Five-year Plan for Shanghai International Shipping Center and the construction of “financial and shipping centers” as well as Shanghai’s economic development.

The Meeting produced sound effects, having defined the direction for the selection of 2011 shipping-related research project, as well as industry hotspots, pitfalls and policy bottlenecks, etc.

The information on the open bids for 2011 Shipping Research Project will be released soon on the website of the Development Research Center of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government (http://fzzx.sh.gov.cn/).

Appendix: Introduction to “Special Research Project
of Shanghai International Shipping Center”

In order to support the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center and the development of China’s shipping course, the “Research Fund for Shanghai International Shipping Center” sponsored initially by Shanghai Maritime University was established in SISI in 2009. Through solicitation from the public, the Fund attracts social communities to participate in the research, so as to provide suggestions and opinions for the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center.
In order to expand the influence of the fund, uplift the quality of applicants , and better apply any research findings to the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center, the fund-sponsored research projects were incorporated into the Decision-making Consultation Program of Shanghai Municipal Government and named as “Special Research Project of Shanghai International Shipping Center” upon approval of Director Zhou Zhenhua of the Development Research Center of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.
Featuring six open-bidding research projects and four directed projects, “2010 Shipping Research Project” received application letters from nearly 40 intuitions of higher learning, scientific research intuitions, social communities, shipping and port enterprises. After expert review, altogether six applicants won the bid. SISI has studied and summarized the research findings of the fund projects, putting forth suggestions and comments on the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center for relevant government departments.