On the afternoon of January 19, 2010, the Press Conference on Shanghai International Shipping Forum 2010 was held at the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality. About 80 persons were invited to the conference, including Deputy Director Shen Xiaosu and other officials from Shanghai Urban Construction and Communications Commission, as well as reporters from major media in Shanghai and across the country. At the conference, Shen Xiaosu officially announced the planed convocation of Shanghai International Shipping Forum 2010 at Hyatt on the Bund Hotel in Shanghai Hongkou district through March 24th and 26th, 2010. This forum will be jointly organized by the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal Government, jointly operated by Shanghai Urban Construction and Communications Commission, Shanghai Hongkou District People’s Government, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Maritime University, and co-organized by SISI and Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

In the age of globalization, international shipping centers have always been playing an important role in promoting the development of the shipping industry, international trade and optimal resource allocation. Reviewed and approved in principle on March 25, 2009, the Opinions of the State Council on Expediting the Development of Modern Service Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Industry as well as Construction of an International Financial Center and an International Shipping Center in Shanghai is not only an important measure for China’s modernization and deepening of reform and opening-up, but also a great opportunity for continuously improving Shanghai's international reputation and developing it into a world-renowned shipping center and financial center.

Centered on the hot issues around the construction of the international shipping center, the Forum will provide insights into the new trends of the world shipping industry, and extract forward-looking experiences from well-known international shipping centers. Relevant national departments, local governments, port and shipping management departments, industry associations, universities, research institutions, shipping service providers and ship-owner companies will gather at the forum to discuss the strategy for the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center. Our distinguished guests will include Xu Zuyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport; Torben Skaanild, Secretary-General of BIMCO; Ma Shuo, Vice President of World Maritime University; Richard Sadler, CEO of Lloyd's Register; Jeremy Penn, President of the Baltic Exchange; and Ghang Jong-hee, President of Korea Maritime Institute. They will deliver wonderful keynote speeches on the framework of global international shipping and ongoing major challenges, building a Shanghai international shipping center capable of allocating global shipping resources, the impacts on and requirements for the construction of international shipping centers brought by the development trends of the world shipping industry , analysis and comparison of competitive advantages of world's shipping gathering centers, as well as opportunities and challenges Chinese shipping enterprises will face in the post-financial crisis era.

During the forum, a series of supporting activities will be organized, presenting the following highlights:

• First-day cover: integrating shipping characteristics, a first-day cover of the forum will be issued.
• Pre-conference workshop: a small workshop will be held on March 24 to launch a warm-up ceremony of the forum.
• Welcome dinner: the government will host a banquet to celebrate the grand opening of the forum.
• Visiting major shipping centers in Shanghai: explore features of the shipping industry in Shanghai and the construction of Expo 2010 Shanghai China.
The Shanghai International Shipping Forum 2010 will become one of the most influential annual forums for the shipping industry in the Asian-Pacific region and even the world. The forum will gather more than 30 authoritative speakers from developed countries, developing countries and regions, as well as over 300 industry elites engaging in the global shipping finance service industry, discussing significant issues and contributing to world’s prosperity.
For more information about the forum, please visit the official website: www.sisf.net, or contact:
Secretariat of the organizing Committee of Shanghai International Shipping Forum 2010
Lu Peiming; Tel.: 86-21-52360030; Fax: (8621) 52360029; E-mail: jerry.lu@globaleaders.com
Cao Di; Tel.: 86-21-65355897; Fax: (8621) 65373125; E-mail: rose_chau@hotmail.com