December 6, 2024, the 3rd Greater Bay Area Port, Shipping and Logistics Development Forum was grandly held in Shenzhen. Hosted by China Shipping Gazette and the International Shipping Enterprise Association (ISEA), supported by Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, Qianhai Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd., Shanghai Panasia Shipping Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Bisheng Logistics Technology Co., Ltd., the forum was undertaken by the Top 50 Shipping Elites Research Center (50SERC) and ISEA Guangdong General Chapter.
The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is a national strategy personally planned, deployed and promoted by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and a new practice to advance the cause of "One Country, Two Systems". As the host city of this forum, Shenzhen has clearly set out goals in its 14th Five-Year Plan and 2035 Vision Outline, including "building a global trade hub port, consolidating and enhancing its status as a world-class container hub port" and "expanding high value-added shipping services to develop a port economic belt".
Centering on the theme of "Cultivating New Quality Productive Forces to Promote High-Quality Development of the Port and Shipping Logistics Industry", this forum aims to build a high-end port and shipping logistics exchange platform based in the Greater Bay Area, a business cooperation platform for domestic and overseas port and shipping logistics enterprises and institutions to align with the Greater Bay Area strategy, and an authoritative release platform for typical achievements of port and shipping logistics cooperation.
Guests attending the forum included Xu Zuyuan, Chief Expert on Decision-Making Consultation of the China Association for Science and Technology and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport; Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette; Wang Jianhua, Director of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration; Huang Youfang, Director of the Logistics Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education and Former President of Shanghai Maritime University; Fei Weijun, Former President of the Water Transport Science Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport; Zhang Ye, Former President of Shanghai Shipping Exchange; Zhang Huaqin, Former President of Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering, Ministry of Transport; Wang Ping'an, Second-Class Inspector of the Pearl River Maritime Administration of the Ministry of Transport; Xue Yidong, President of China Maritime Pilots Association; Li Mingzhong, Deputy General Manager of Guangzhou Port Co., Ltd.; Yao Zuhong, Deputy General Manager of Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co., Ltd.; Li Jichun, Chief Accountant of COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd.; Xu Tao, General Manager of Shandong Shipping Corporation; Wang Guochao, President of Lianyungang Port Holding Group Co., Ltd.; Wang Qiu, Deputy General Manager of Sinotrans Container Lines Co., Ltd.; Cai Wenhua, Chief Architect of Logistics Solutions, Intelligent Transportation Corps, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; Zhou Yaorong, Director of the Key Area Development Department, Qianhai Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality; and Wang Tao, Chief Master of Shandong Ocean Shipping Group Co., Ltd.
In addition, more than 200 guests from port, shipping and logistics supply chain enterprises including COSCO SHIPPING Lines, China Merchants Energy Shipping, China Merchants Port, Yang Ming Marine Transport, SITC, Jinjiang Shipping, ICBC Financial Leasing, Hutchison Ports Yantian and COSCO SHIPPING Logistics & Supply Chain, as well as cargo owner and trade enterprises, professional colleges, research institutions and news media, attended the opening ceremony of the forum.
Xu Zuyuan, Chief Expert on Decision-Making Consultation of the China Association for Science and Technology and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport
Xu Zuyuan, Chief Expert on Decision-Making Consultation of the China Association for Science and Technology and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, delivered a keynote speech titled Developing New Quality Productive Forces to Jointly Build a New Pattern of Port and Shipping Logistics through Integration.
He stated that the current port and shipping logistics industry mainly faces three major challenges: geopolitical conflicts and supply chain stability, low-carbon transition, and digitalization and technological innovation. Developing new quality productive forces is of great significance and far-reaching impact for the port and shipping logistics industry to address current challenges.
He further explained: "First, new quality productive forces emphasize innovation and high quality, and the introduction of high-tech tools to drive industrial development. Second, they emphasize expanding the scope of labor objects and exploring new service models and business areas. Third, they require the talent structure in all fields to shift towards high quality, high technology and high capability, evolving from simple 'manpower' to the 'driving force' of technology application in the industry. Fourth, they call for the formation of new leading industries, which means chain-based development."
He hoped that all parties would set up talent benchmarks for new quality productive forces in the port and shipping logistics industry and increase publicity for representative technical talents. Meanwhile, for the development of new quality productive forces in the industry, Shenzhen should give full play to its urban advantages, industrial accumulation and pioneering spirit to drive surrounding areas, jointly pursue reform and build a new development pattern.
Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette
Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette, delivered a speech on behalf of the organizers. He stated that the port and shipping logistics industry is currently faced with both opportunities and challenges, and the core to addressing challenges and seizing opportunities lies in innovation in four aspects: technology, transformation, talents and cooperation.
He emphasized: "It is precisely based on the shared demand for innovation that we chose to hold the Greater Bay Area Port & Shipping Logistics Development Forum in Shenzhen and conduct discussions around 'new quality productive forces'. Facing various new challenges, we should strive to promote technological iteration in the industry to enhance competitiveness; explore new transformation paths for the industry to address current problems and improve the stability and resilience of supply chains; innovate talent training models to meet the basic elements for developing new quality productive forces in the port and shipping logistics industry; and build a community with a shared future for the industry and a more open platform to innovate cooperation models between peers and cross-industry partners."
Wang Jianhua, Director of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration
Wang Jianhua, Director of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, delivered a keynote speech on "Building a 'Three Best' Port to Boost High-Quality Development of the Port and Shipping Logistics Industry".
He introduced that Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration is committed to building the world's safest port, the most accessible and efficient port, and the port with the best business environment. In the future, Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration will further advance the integration of maritime supervision and service support, comprehensively deepen the digital and intelligent reform of maritime affairs, effectively serve the green and low-carbon development of port and shipping, and continuously improve its international cooperation capacity.
Chen Hongbing, Editor-in-Chief of China Shipping Gazette and Chief Executive Officer of the International Shipping Enterprise Association (ISEA), hosted the opening ceremony of the forum.
Chen Hongbing, Editor-in-Chief of China Shipping Gazette and Chief Executive Officer of the International Shipping Enterprise Association (ISEA)
At the subsequent plenary session of the forum, guests including Wang Qiu, Deputy General Manager of Sinotrans Container Lines Co., Ltd.; Cai Wenhua, Chief Architect of Logistics Solutions, Intelligent Transportation Corps, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.; Tan Weiwen from the Pulp Supply Chain Division of COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd.; Zhou Yaorong, Director of the Key Area Development Department, Qianhai Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality; and Zhang Tingting, Deputy General Manager of WallTech, shared their explorations and practices in cultivating new quality productive forces, advancing digital transformation, and supporting Shenzhen's construction of a global marine center city from the perspective of their respective enterprises.
Wang Qiu, Deputy General Manager of Sinotrans Container Lines Co., Ltd.
Cai Wenhua, Chief Architect of Logistics Solutions, Intelligent Transportation Corps, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Tan Weiwen, Pulp Supply Chain Division, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers Co., Ltd.
Zhou Yaorong, Director of the Key Area Development Department, Qianhai Administration Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality
Zhang Tingting, Deputy General Manager of WallTech
Meanwhile, a press conference for the 3rd International Supply Chain Logistics Exposition (ISL Expo 2025) was held on the sidelines of the forum. The exposition will be held in Shanghai from May 21 to 23, 2025. Chen Hongbing, Editor-in-Chief of China Shipping Gazette, introduced the highlights and preparation progress of the exposition on behalf of the organizing committee.
Chen Hongbing, Editor-in-Chief of China Shipping Gazette, promoting the exposition
He introduced that the first two editions of the exposition have attracted nearly 300 international logistics enterprises as exhibitors and 25,000 professional visitors for on-site observation and negotiation, with a total of 3,000 logistics managers from foreign trade cargo owners attending. Starting from the 3rd edition, the International Supply Chain Logistics Exposition (Shanghai) will be held annually between April and May, which will facilitate overseas exhibitors and visitors to arrange their schedules.
The 3rd edition will focus on four aspects of work: first, closely follow the international trade situation and national policy guidance, take enhancing the resilience, safety and stability of international supply chain logistics as the core theme, and increase the appeal and cohesion of the exposition to senior executives of international logistics enterprises and key foreign trade cargo owner buyers; second, further consolidate the foundation of port and shipping logistics enterprises, accelerate the organization of multimodal transport enterprises, and strive to improve the quality of exhibitors to meet the international logistics needs of professional buyers such as foreign trade cargo owners; third, further strengthen financial support and organize two categories of professional visitors: foreign trade cargo owner buyers and international freight forwarding peers; fourth, persistently promote the internationalization of the exposition, organize overseas enterprises to exhibit, invite overseas professional visitors to attend and negotiate, and hold events such as "Country-Specific Policy Briefings for Chinese Manufacturing Going Global" during the exposition.
He sincerely invited industry peers to gather at the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Center of International Sourcing (SHCEC) from May 21 to 23, 2025 to share business opportunities and seek common development.
At the forum, the awarding ceremony for the first batch of member enterprises of the "China Logistics Industry ESG Series Standards Research Group" was also held. Hutchison Ports Yantian, Shandong Ocean Shipping Group Co., Ltd., COSCO SHIPPING Holdings Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jinjiang Shipping (Group) Co., Ltd. received the plaques as representatives.
Xu Zuyuan (first from left), Chief Expert on Decision-Making Consultation of the China Association for Science and Technology and Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, and Huang Youfang (first from right), Director of the Logistics Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education and Former President of Shanghai Maritime University, awarding plaques to the first batch of member enterprises of the "China Logistics Industry ESG Series Standards Research Group"
在同时举行的“2024港航物流业新质生产力推荐案例”“2024港航物流助力大湾区发展优秀案例”发布仪式上，中远海特、中远海控、工银金租、中远海运物流供应链、外运集运、天津港信息技术、天津港集码、中理检验、锦江航运、上海集享运等的项目案例，入选“2024港航物流业新质生产力推荐案例”。
Ni Wei (first from right), President of China Shipping Gazette, presenting honors to representatives of selected project units of "2024 Recommended Cases of New Quality Productive Forces in the Port and Shipping Logistics Industry"
In addition, projects from enterprises including Wuzhou Shipping, Sinotrans Container Lines and COSCO SHIPPING Logistics & Supply Chain were selected into the "2024 Excellent Cases of Port and Shipping Logistics Empowering Greater Bay Area Development".
Ni Wei (first from left), President of China Shipping Gazette, presenting honors to representatives of selected project units of "2024 Excellent Cases of Port and Shipping Logistics Empowering Greater Bay Area Development"
Zhang Yanchao, Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Shipping Gazette and Chief Operating Officer of the International Shipping Enterprise Association (ISEA), hosted the plenary session of the forum.
Zhang Yanchao, Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of China Shipping Gazette and Chief Operating Officer of the International Shipping Enterprise Association (ISEA)
As supporting events of this forum, the 11th Annual Meeting of the China Top 50 Shipping Elites Forum & Visit to China Merchants Group was held on December 5. On the afternoon of December 6, a series of rich events were also held, including the first plenary meeting of the "China Logistics Industry ESG Series Standards Research Group", the 2024 Annual Meeting of the China Communications and Transportation Association - Shipping and Logistics Branch (CCTA-SLB), the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Port & Shipping Logistics Digitalization Roundtable, and the 5th "Golden 60 Seconds" ISEA Cross-Port Business Cooperation Matchmaking Conference, providing more opportunities for exchanges and cooperation for participating guests.
