A thousand sails race across the Bohai Bay, a hundred boats compete along the Haihe River. On April 24, the series events of "The 1st China (Dongjiang) Shipping Industry Week 2019", co-hosted by China Shipping Gazette and Tianjin Dongjiang Investment Holding Co., Ltd., grandly opened at InterContinental Tianjin Yujiapu Hotel. The event is guided by the China Communications and Transportation Association and the People's Government of Binhai New Area, Tianjin, and supported by the Administrative Committee of Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area and Tianjin Maritime Court.

Zhang Yuzhuo, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Binhai New Area Committee, Delivers Welcome Speech

Zhang Yuzhuo, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Binhai New Area Committee, delivered a welcome speech at the opening ceremony. He stated that the theme of this event, "Shipping Industry Transformation in the New Era", is a highly condensed summary of the current development direction of the global shipping industry. After hitting bottom in 2016, the global shipping market is now on a path of sustained recovery. Although affected by trade protectionism and the IMO Sulfur Cap, the global shipping market faces a certain degree of uncertainty, with the rise of Chinese financial shipowners, the development of emerging markets along the Belt and Road, and the eastward shift of maritime finance centers, domestic financial institutions continue to make breakthroughs in depth and breadth in the shipping sector, serving a wide range of shipping enterprises at a higher level.

Yu Zhuomin, Executive Vice President of the China Communications and Transportation Association, Delivers Speech

Yu Zhuomin, Executive Vice President of the China Communications and Transportation Association, stated in his speech that the report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly put forward the basic strategy of building a country with strong transportation network. As an integral part of transportation, the port and shipping industry plays an indispensable role, and building a maritime power is an important component of building a strong transportation country. With the advancement and implementation of China's Belt and Road Initiative, the port and shipping industry is facing greater historical development opportunities. To build a maritime power, it is necessary to actively promote the transformation and upgrading of the port and shipping industry, achieve high-quality development, serve the real economy more precisely, enhance the capacity to serve international trade, and contribute to reducing the logistics costs of commodity trade. The China Communications and Transportation Association will continue to play its role as a bridge, build platforms for exchange and cooperation for the development of the port and shipping industry, and make due contributions to promoting China's progress from a major maritime country to a maritime power.

With the theme of "Shipping Industry Transformation in the New Era", this series of events responds to the changes in international trade in recent years. China's foreign trade pattern has shifted from export-oriented to balanced import and export, and the related shipping and logistics industry has changed accordingly. In addition, the continuous emergence of new models and new forms of business such as cross-border e-commerce has also put forward new demands for shipping services.

Xu Zuyuan, Maritime Ambassador of the International Maritime Organization and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, Delivers Keynote Speech

Xu Zuyuan, Maritime Ambassador of the International Maritime Organization and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, stated in his keynote speech that many new changes and trends may completely transform or even subvert the current shipping development format within the next decade. Among them, the new trade situation will create new paths for shipping development; under the leadership of new technologies, more and more new shipping models will emerge; under new rules and regulations, the shipping industry also faces new choices; in the future, there will be more new shipping services driven by new demands.

At the same time, he encouraged Chinese shipping enterprises to cultivate four qualities: the courage to seize opportunities and "dare to be the first"; the ethos of "keeping one's word to achieve results"; the confidence to formulate international rules; and the generosity of "helping others when one is prosperous".

Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette, Delivers Speech on Behalf of the Organizers

Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette, stated in his speech on behalf of the organizers that China Shipping Gazette was founded in 1993, and has published 1,312 issues with hundreds of millions of copies distributed so far. Since its inception, it has been deeply integrated with the shipping industry, delivering positive energy for industrial development and witnessing generations of influential figures in China's shipping industry who carry forward the cause and forge ahead, creating the glory of the industry.

The opening conference conducted in-depth discussions on topics of industry concern and enterprise interest, such as the development trend of the international shipping industry under the new situation of international trade, the transformation of shipping service models, and how shipping finance and insurance can better serve the shipping industry. It attracted nearly 800 representatives from many well-known port and shipping enterprise leaders, industry experts and think tanks, as well as enterprises in related fields including international trade cargo owners, international freight forwarders, and shipping finance and insurance.

Important guests attending the opening ceremony and related conferences and events included: Xu Zuyuan, Maritime Ambassador of the International Maritime Organization and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport; Zhang Yuzhuo, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee and Secretary of the CPC Binhai New Area Committee; Yu Zhuomin, Executive Vice President of the China Communications and Transportation Association; Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette; Sun Yuqing, President of Dalian Maritime University; Huang Youfang, President of Shanghai Maritime University; Zhang Ye, President of Shanghai Shipping Exchange; Zhang Shouguo, Executive Vice President of China Shipowners' Association; Yang Maorong, Head of Binhai New Area; Shen Lei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Administrative Committee of Dongjiang Bonded Port Area; Hu Hanxiang, Former Director General of the Water Transport Department, Ministry of Transport; Liu Gongchen, Former Safety Director of the Ministry of Transport; Wang Zuwen, Former President of Dalian Maritime University; Zhao Yongqiang, Deputy Head of Binhai New Area; Zhao Guicai, President of ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Zhang Baochen, Director of the Academic Committee of the Water Transport Science Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport; Xie Zhijian, Chairman of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation; Zhao Huxiang, Former Chairman of Sinotrans & CSC Group Co., Ltd.; Wang Jianhua, Director of the Pearl River Maritime Administration of the Ministry of Transport; Xu Guoyi, Director of the Office of Shanghai Combined Port Administrative Committee; Zhang Zhengyong, Chairman of Evergreen Marine Corp.; Zhang Jianwei, Executive Chairman of the China Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, International Chamber of Commerce; Chu Bin, Chairman of Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd.; Chen Zhiping, Chairman of Xiamen Port Holding Group Co., Ltd.; Li Xinghu, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Fujian Communications and Transportation Group Co., Ltd.; Jiao Guangjun, President of Qingdao Port (Group) Co., Ltd.; Bao Jianying, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Shandong Ocean Group Co., Ltd.; Lu Zongjun, Chairman of Zhonggu Logistics Group Co., Ltd.; Wang Kesheng, Chairman of Caofeidian Port Group Co., Ltd.; Xue Yidong, President of China Maritime Pilots Association; Zhao Wei, Former President of China Tallying Association; Yu Bing, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Shandong Shipping Corporation; Lin Yuanzheng, China Regional General Manager of Evergreen Marine Corp.; Jia Taixing, China Regional General Manager of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation; Jin Shuying, Full-time Deputy Director of the Financial Leasing Professional Committee of China Banking Association; Wan Xiaofang, President of Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Chen Honghui, Director and President of Unitrans Group Holdings Co., Ltd.; Wang Zhenyong, Vice President of ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Wang Weijun, General Manager of the Asset Management Department of Far East Horizon Co., Ltd. Yang Liu, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area, presided over the opening ceremony.

More than 50 domestic and overseas media outlets followed the conference and covered the grand event.

On-site View of the Opening Ceremony and Plenary Session of "The 1st China (Dongjiang) Shipping Industry Week 2019"

Tribute: 70 Figures in Shipping for 70 Years of New China

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past 70 years, China's shipping industry has developed from a state of "having seas but no ships, having ships but no routes, having routes but no expertise" into a major shipping country with the world's largest ports, the world's largest shipping enterprises, and the world's largest container ships. During this period, generations of shipping practitioners have braved the risks of navigation and dedicated themselves silently to the cause of building China into a maritime power. To pay tribute to them, as a special session of the opening ceremony, the release ceremony of the selected list of "70 Figures in Shipping for 70 Years of New China" was grandly held.

President Ni Wei explained the overall situation of the "70 Figures in Shipping for 70 Years of New China" selection campaign held over the past month. He called on: "Let us follow in the footsteps of these outstanding figures of the times, draw nourishment and wisdom from the 70-year shipping development history of New China, and embark on an even greater new journey. China Shipping Gazette is willing to shoulder the trust of the majority of industry readers, continue to advocate for the development of the industry, eulogize the pioneers of the times, and pass on advanced ideas and deeds from generation to generation."

List of Selected Recipients of "70 Figures in Shipping for 70 Years of New China"

Xu Zuyuan, Maritime Ambassador of the International Maritime Organization and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport; Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette; and Shen Lei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Administrative Committee of Dongjiang Bonded Port Area, presented certificates to representatives of the selected recipients of "70 Figures in Shipping for 70 Years of New China".

Insights: Advantageous Industries Boost Regional Upgrading

Tianjin is a port city with a history of 600 years, and its development is closely linked to the rise and fall of the shipping industry. In the new historical period, the ancient shipping industry has been endowed with more functions. In particular, relying on the clustering of the leasing industry and Tianjin Port, and with the support of national ministries and commissions, Tianjin's maritime finance industry has developed particularly rapidly, forming a variety of transaction models and breaking through multiple reform bottlenecks, building a service platform for the national maritime finance industry to promote continuous industrial upgrading and optimization. In the subsequent keynote speech session, Shen Lei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Administrative Committee of Dongjiang Bonded Port Area; Zhao Guicai, President of ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Chu Bin, Chairman of Tianjin Port Group; Wang Weijun, General Manager of the Asset Management Department of Far East Horizon Co., Ltd.; and Li Xiujie, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of Tianjin Maritime Court, delivered a "feast of ideas" for all participants on topics including the exploration and practice of bonded port areas, opportunities and challenges faced by financial shipowners, the construction of smart hub ports, the management of non-performing vessel assets, and the development of maritime legal system. The keynote speech session was hosted by Zhuang Wei, China Regional President of BIMCO.

Shen Lei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Administrative Committee of Dongjiang Bonded Port Area, Delivers Speech

Shen Lei introduced that as an important carrier for pilot reforms in Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone, innovation is regarded as the core concept of Dongjiang's development. Especially in the financial leasing industry, focusing on cross-border leasing business, Dongjiang has launched a number of innovative pilots together with regulatory authorities. In recent years, breakthroughs have also been made in financial leasing and offshore leasing. At present, Dongjiang has become a demonstration zone for foreign exchange system reform. On the basis of a series of innovations in customs supervision models, bonded supervision measures were introduced together with Tianjin Customs this year, solving cross-border transaction problems that have plagued enterprises for many years and greatly improving the efficiency of affairs in the zone.

Zhao Guicai, President of ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., Delivers Speech

In recent years, with the rapid rise of China's shipping financial leasing business, financial forces represented by ICBC Leasing have deeply participated in the shipping industry, providing continuous impetus for industrial development. Zhao Guicai introduced that ICBC Leasing has always taken leasing as its main business segment and expanded to the global market. Its business model has evolved from single financial leasing to providing functional financing solutions for upstream and downstream customers of the shipping industry chain. By the end of 2018, ICBC Leasing's asset scale reached 18 billion yuan, covering multiple projects such as bulk carriers, container ships, product oil tankers, LNG carriers and luxury cruise ships, and has cumulatively built more than 140 vessels for domestic shipyards.

Chu Bin, Chairman of Tianjin Port Group, Delivers Speech

Tianjin, the host city of this conference, is home to one of the world's highest-grade ports, Tianjin Port. In recent years, Tianjin Port has spared no effort in building a world-class green and smart hub port. Chu Bin stated that in the future, Tianjin Port will accelerate the transition from safe development to green development, vigorously promote the adjustment of energy structure, focus on the governance of the Bohai Rim coastal areas and the relocation of mineral transport from north to south, and strive to build a new model of green and sustainable port development. At the same time, it will accelerate the upgrade from technology to intelligence, promote the automation upgrade of ports, and deepen the development of modern information technology in various fields to reach world-class levels. Ultimately, it will fully promote high-quality development, prioritize quality, comprehensively enhance the intelligence of production and operation and the automation of equipment operation, and build a digital platform.

Wang Weijun, General Manager of the Asset Management Department of Far East Horizon Co., Ltd., Delivers Speech

Wang Weijun introduced his experience in the management of non-performing vessel assets at Far East Horizon to the participants. He also suggested that when participating in vessel investment, financial institutions should build a mature team and corresponding management system to ensure asset security, and at the same time communicate more with industry institutions to familiarize themselves with the transportation and logistics field.

Li Xiujie, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of Tianjin Maritime Court, Delivers Speech

Li Xiujie believed that maritime judicial institutions should practice boldly, respect market entities and economic laws, equally protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese and foreign parties, intervene less and support more. Through fair trials, they should guarantee innovation in accordance with the law and stimulate market vitality.

Yang Liu, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Port Area, Presided Over the Opening Ceremony

Zhuang Wei, China Regional President of BIMCO, Hosted the Keynote Speech Session

The opening conference also held a roundtable dialogue session. Zhang Hongwei, Deputy Division Chief of Binhai Central Sub-branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange; Yang Jingwei, President of the Vessel Leasing Division of Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Lu Zhendong, Deputy General Manager of the Shipping Department of BOCOM Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Li Jing, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Changhang International Shipping Co., Ltd.; Sun Jiawen, Director of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited; and Chen Yali, Tax Partner of KPMG, discussed topics such as new environmental requirements for the shipping industry from a financial perspective and policies for the development of financial business in free trade zones under the theme of "China's Maritime Finance Under the Transformation of the Shipping Industry". The session was hosted by Ji Fei, Managing Director of the Shipping Department of ICBC Leasing.

Roundtable Dialogue Session Held at the Opening Conference

The following events were also held on the same day: the 6th Annual Meeting of the China Top 50 Shipping Elites Forum, the 1st Container Shipowners, Cargo Owners and Freight Forwarders Cooperation Matchmaking Conference, the 5th China Maritime Finance (Dongjiang) International Forum, the "Golden Carrier Cup" Innovation Award Ceremony for the Freight Industry, and the Maritime Finance "Star-Tracking Award" Ceremony. For details, please refer to the follow-up reports on the official WeChat account of China Shipping Gazette.