Organized by the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China and Shanghai Municipal Government, operated by Shanghai Urban Construction and Communications Commission, Shanghai Hongkou District Government, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Maritime University, and co-organized by Shanghai International Shipping Institute (SISI) and Shanghai Shipping Exchange, the Shanghai International Shipping Forum 2010 was held successfully at Hyatt on the Bund Hotel through March 24th and 25th, 2010.

A scene from the forum

In the age of globalization, the international shipping centers have 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 an important measure for China’s modernization and deepening of reform and opening-up. Centered on the topics of “Construction of International Shipping Center” and “Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center”, the forum was divided into five sessions, addressing the Development of International Shipping Centers in the Globalization Era, Outlook of the Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center, Outlook of Global Economy and Trade, Shipping Market, and Shipping Service. Some world-renowned scholars and experts from famous international shipping centers and authoritative shipping consultation agencies were invited to deliver wonderful keynote speeches for each session.

Session One: Development of International Shipping Centers in the Globalization Era

Presided over by SMU's Vice President Huang Youfang, the first session of Shanghai International Shipping Forum 2010 kicked off on March 24. Informative speeches were heard from Torben Skaanild, Secretary-General of Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO); Ma Shuo, Vice President of World Maritime University; Denis Petropoulos of Braemar Seascope; Bao Qifan, Vice President of Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd.; Sun Licheng, Secretary of Party Committee and Vice President of China Classification Society; Jeremy Penn, President of the Baltic Exchange; Wan Guohua, Associate Director of the Management School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and Eric Jacobsen, economics partner of Maineng. They shared unique visions on international shipping and current challenges, construction modes of world's shipping centers and strategic choices of Shanghai, ship brokerage, scientific and technological innovation, coordinated development of classification societies, agglomeration and globalization of the shipping industry, research and development of shipping indices, and comparisons among the world's shipping gathering centers, offering valuable advices for promoting the development of international shipping centers in the era of globalization.

Keynote speakers for session one

Session Two: Outlook of the Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center

On March 25, Han Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, attended the opening ceremony of the forum. He stated in his welcome speech that under the correct leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Shanghai shall express unification with the central government by further speeding up the optimization of modern collecting, dispatching and shipping system, expediting the development of modern shipping service system, and exploring the establishment of the Integrated Experimental Zone for International Shipping Development on the basis of current achievements, so as to achieve greater progress in the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center.

Li Shenglin, Secretary of Party Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry of Transport attended the forum. He delivered a wonderful speech on the "Development of China's Shipping Industry and Construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center", pointing out that accelerating the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center is not only an integral part of the development of China's shipping industry, but also a timely measure to meet the national strategic requirements. The construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center should focus on transforming development mode, striving for reform and innovation, promoting win-win cooperation, and achieving coordinated development.

Xu Xianping, Deputy Director of National Development and Reform Commission, pointed out the historic responsibility Shanghai shoulders for future shipping development. Qian Yongchang, Chairman of China Communications and Transportation Association, put forward a new blueprint of Shanghai International Shipping Center and some valuable advices on its future construction.

Leaders and speakers at the opening ceremony

Session Three: Outlook of Global Economy and Trade

This session was chaired by Zhang Xiang, Executive Director of China Center for International Economic Exchanges. The keynote speakers included Li Ruogu, Chairman & President of the Export-Import Bank of China; Tung Chee-chen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of orient Overseas (International) Co., Ltd.; Li Shaode, President of China Shipping (Group) Company; and Robert Lorenz-Meyer, President of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). By exchanging insights on functions of policy-related finance, outlook and impacts of global economy and trade, shipping restructuring, challenges of new and large fleets and other issues, they provided directions for global economy and trade outlook.