At the press briefing of the North
Bund Forum 2023 held on the morning of today (September 12), Wang Weiren,
deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government, introduced the overall
arrangement of this year’s forum and the progress of the green and smart
transformation of Shanghai’s shipping and aviation industry. Gao Haiyun,
second-level inspector of the Water Transport Bureau of the Ministry of
Transport, introduced the development of China’s shipping and aviation
industry. Yu Fulin, director of Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission,
Chen Shuai, deputy chief of Hongkou District, Zhang Xin, vice president of Shanghai
International Port Group, and Zhang Yongdong, deputy Party Secretary of Shanghai Airport Group,
attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.

(I)

To
enhance international collaboration within the global shipping and aviation
sector, foster the sustainable growth of the industry, and maximize the role of
shipping and aviation as a vital link in global trade and cultural
interactions, the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People’s
Government have jointly initiated the annual North Bund Forum since 2021. With
the endorsement of the State Council, the North Bund Forum 2023 is scheduled to
take place in Shanghai from September 22 to 24.

Last
year, the forum facilitated profound and extensive dialogues and exchanges
centered around the theme of “Green, Intelligent, and Resilient Global Shipping
& Aviation Industry Through Global Partnerships.” Shanghai, in response,
diligently embraced the forum’s essence and pursued its outcomes, actively
propelling various initiatives aimed at elevating the shipping and aviation industry’s
standards in sustainability and intelligence. As a result, we have already
witnessed tangible progress in our endeavors.

Firstly, we are committed to advancing the green
transformation within the shipping and aviation industry and actively fostering
energy conservation, pollution reduction, and carbon reduction.

1. Expediting shore power facilities: We are on
an accelerated path towards constructing and deploying shore power facilities.
The foreign trade container berths at Shanghai Port now boast a remarkable
shore power coverage rate exceeding 90%. The city has made significant strides
in converting power receiving infrastructure for operating and inspection
vessels, alongside the establishment of low-voltage and small-capacity shore
power systems for inland ports. These endeavors have culminated in the achievement
of our “three 100% full coverage” objectives.

2. Promoting electric ships on Suzhou Creek and
Huangpu River: The inauguration of the first domestic supercapacitor new energy
vehicle and passenger ferry, the New Ecology, marks a notable milestone.
Moreover, the completion of the inaugural new energy vessel for Pujiang Tours
is a testament to our commitment. All 12 sightseeing vessels traversing the
Suzhou River now operate as pure electric new energy boats.

3. Fostering sustainable aviation: The Green
Airport Construction Plan (2020-2035) has been successfully executed, with the
utilization rate of bridge power supply at Pudong Airport and Hongqiao Airport
exceeding an impressive 99%.

4. Enhancing international collaboration for
green ports and shipping: Shanghai is actively engaging in international
cooperation to promote green practices within ports and shipping. Our
partnership includes a memo of cooperation signed with the International
Maritime Organization. Furthermore, Shanghai Port has joined hands with the
Port of Los Angeles to initiate the establishment of a “green shipping and
aviation corridor.”

Secondly, we are committed to expediting the
digital and intelligent transformation of the shipping and aviation industry,
fostering innovation, and thereby enhancing the quality and efficiency of our
operations. Our initiatives in this domain include: 1). Advancing Smart Port
Technology: Shanghai has taken a pioneering role in launching the nation’s
first step-by-step autonomous driving operation test for public roads. The
Yangshan Port Intelligent Heavy Truck Demonstration Operation project has
yielded significant results. Furthermore, the fully automatic terminal in
Yangshan Phase IV has successfully achieved its designed throughput capacity,
and automated terminal technology is now implemented in 14 terminals both
domestically and internationally; 2) Building a Comprehensive Port and Shipping
Information Platform: We are continuing to develop our port and shipping
information platform, leveraging cutting-edge blockchain technology. This
platform now spans the Yangtze River Basin, the Yangtze River Delta region, and
several coastal ports, enhancing connectivity and efficiency. Through the
application of blockchain technology, Shanghai Port has eliminated paper-based
processes throughout the import and cargo release procedures. Import order
exchanges and cargo release now take less than 4 hours, significantly
expediting operations; 3) Accelerating Smart Airport Development: We are
steadily progressing towards the intelligent operations of airport management
systems. Shanghai Airport has already made significant strides in realizing the
concept and applications of a digital-twin airport.

The overall
arrangement of this year’s North Bund Forum:

The
North Bund Forum 2023 is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of
Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. It is hosted by the
Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, the Hongkou District People’s
Government, and supported by organizations such as China COSCO Shipping Group,
China Eastern Airlines Group, Shanghai International Port Group, and Shanghai
Airport Group.

In
terms of timing and theme, the forum is scheduled to take place from September
22 to September 24, 2023, at the Grand Halls on the North Bund. The overarching
theme for this event is “Openness, Cooperation, and Innovation: Co-building a
New Landscape of Global Shipping & Aviation.”

As
for the agenda, the forum includes the opening ceremony/main forum, two
parallel forums and six thematic forums. The opening ceremony/main forum will
engage domestic and foreign ministerial guests, heads of relevant international
organizations, and well-known experts to deliver speeches or give briefing. The
two parallel forums are titled “International Maritime Forum” and
“International Aviation Forum.” The six thematic forums focus on “Safety and
Cooperation,” “Rescue and Salvage,” “Digital and Intelligence,” “Green and Low
Carbon,” “Judicial and Arbitration,” and “Finance and Insurance.” These
sessions will bring together experts and representatives from various facets of
the shipping/aviation industry and its supply chain, facilitating discussions, idea-sharing,
and consensus-building.

In
terms of the outcomes, the organizing committee office has gathered significant
achievements within Shanghai’s shipping and aviation sector since the last
forum. During the opening ceremony, we anticipate unveiling over 10 new
accomplishments, with a particular focus on innovative development and open
cooperation. Throughout the forum’s duration, more than 20 new achievements and
over 10 case studies will be showcased, providing a comprehensive reflection of
the collective efforts of all stakeholders in advancing the shipping and
aviation industry’s progress over the past year.

(II)

The shipping and aviation industry holds a
pivotal role within the country’s comprehensive transportation system and
serves as a crucial pillar supporting economic, social, and national
development strategies, contributing significantly to the realization of the
Chinese-style modernization. In a congratulatory letter addressed to the North
Bund Forum 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping underscored the industry’s
significance by emphasizing its role as a cornerstone for fostering
international trade and facilitating global people-to-people exchanges.

In alignment with the directives of General
Secretary Xi Jinping, the Ministry of Transport has diligently executed the
visionary guidance and worked tirelessly to propel the shipping and aviation
industry towards high-quality development. Within the comprehensive
transportation system, national waterway freight volume and cargo turnover now
account for 16.9% and 53.5%, respectively, demonstrating their effective
contribution to our country’s economic and social advancement. Notably,
maritime transport shoulders the responsibility for approximately 95% of
China’s foreign trade transportation volume. It plays a critical role in
ensuring the smooth transport of vital commodities such as imported grain and
energy resources, thereby fortifying the security, stability, and efficiency of
both our international and domestic logistics supply chains. 

Firstly,
our maritime service network spans the globe, with a continually expanding
reach into the advantages of inland shipping. China has successfully
established maritime routes connecting more than 100 countries and regions,
with these routes encompassing all coastal nations and regions along the Belt
and Road initiative. This comprehensive service network is in a constant state
of improvement, positioning us at the forefront of global maritime
connectivity. Notably, Chinese shipowners now command a fleet with a size of
249.2 million gross tons, surpassing Greece to secure the title of the world’s
largest shipowners in terms of gross tonnage. In parallel, our nation has
maintained its position as the world leader in port cargo throughput and
container throughput for consecutive years. Among the top 10 ports globally in
these categories, China accounts for a remarkable eight and seven,
respectively. As of 2022, our national port cargo throughput reached 15.685
billion tons, together with a container throughput of 296 million TEUs, serving
as a testament to our unwavering commitment to underpinning economic and social
development with our formidable capabilities. Inland river transportation has
consistently achieved top-ranking status worldwide in terms of freight volume
and mileage of navigable inland rivers. The Yangtze River Main Line, in
particular, has maintained its distinction as the world’s busiest and most
prominent waterway. In the year 2022 alone, China’s inland river transportation
reached a cargo volume of 4.402 billion tons and a cargo turnover of 1.9
trillion ton-kilometers. This monumental achievement substantially bolsters our
capacity to bolster regional economic development.

Secondly,
significant strides have been made in advancing major water transportation
projects, sustaining robust growth in fixed asset investment. The pilot phase
of the Pinglu Canal project has been successfully completed, with the main
project now underway in full force. Concurrently, substantial progress has been
achieved in both the water and land components of the Xiaoyangshan North
Container Terminal Project. Additionally, the Jianghuai connection section of
the Yangtze River Diversion Project to the Huaihe River has commenced trial
operations. Key initiatives, such as the Baise water conservancy hub navigation
facility project, continue to forge ahead, together with the completion and
acceptance of the channel improvement project in the Jiulongpo to Chaotianmen
section of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, as well as the Zhejiang
section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal. In a collaborative effort with four
government departments, we have jointly issued a notice outlining the support
for the reconstruction and expansion of wharves, thereby promoting resource
conservation and the efficient utilization of these vital assets. For the year
2022, the nation invested 167.9 billion yuan in water transportation
construction, marking a year-on-year increase of 10.9%. The momentum continued
into the first half of 2023, with an investment of 93.6 billion yuan,
representing a year-on-year increase of 26.7%. This sustained high level of
fixed asset investment serves as a powerful underpinning for economic stability
and the expansion of domestic demand, further bolstering our growth prospects.

Thirdly,
we have accelerated the adjustment of the water transport structure,
relentlessly working to enhance the quality and standards of our services. The
dedication to promoting rail-water intermodal transport is evident in the
issuance and implementation of the Action Plan for Promoting the High-Quality
Development of Rail-Water Intermodal Transport (2023-2025). In the year 2022,
rail-water intermodal transport achieved remarkable growth, with a volume of
8.747 million TEUs, marking a robust year-on-year increase of 16%. This
momentum has continued into the first half of 2023, where we have seen a volume
of 4.778 million TEUs, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%. In tandem with our
efforts to strengthen cargo transport, we have also actively championed the
high-quality development of waterway passenger transport. We are delving into
domestic waterway tourism passenger transport routes with a focus on quality,
diligently refining our service standards. Notably, passenger routes between
the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao have been safely and orderly resumed, and
international cruise shipping has commenced in an orderly pilot fashion. To
further enhance our port services, we have initiated a comprehensive port
service capacity improvement project. Fifteen key port enterprises operating in
11 container hub seaports have collectively established a seamless “one-stop”
online business acceptance service platform. Our efforts have significantly
elevated the quality of refrigerated container port and shipping services.

Fourthly,
our commitment to green and low-carbon development within the water
transportation sector has gained momentum, as we continuously reinforce the
foundation for safe and sustainable growth. A paramount effort is underway to
vigorously promote the use of shore power for vessels during port berthing.
Positive strides have been made in implementing shore power for ships within
the Yangtze River Economic Belt, inter-provincial ro-ro passenger ships
traversing the Bohai Bay and Qiongzhou Strait, and large-scale dry bulk cargo
ships serving coastal domestic trade routes. Furthermore, international
container ships and cruise ships have integrated shore power usage into their
berth operations. Demonstrative applications of shore power have been
successfully executed, with the Bohai Bay interprovincial passenger (cargo)
ro-ro ship terminal achieving full coverage and adoption of shore power
technology. In parallel, we are actively propelling the development of new
energy and clean energy vessels, with approximately 450 LNG-powered ships and
150 electric ships now contributing to a greener maritime industry nationwide. To
consolidate the results of pollution prevention and control measures related to
ships and ports within the Yangtze River Economic Belt, we have implemented
standardized management practices. Our commitment to safety extends to managing
major hazard sources at ports, conducting thorough oversight of the loading and
unloading of overweight domestic trade containers at ports, standardizing
waterway passenger ship-to-shore berthing procedures, and executing a series of
targeted management initiatives. Consequently, the overall safety and
operational conditions within our ports and waterways remain stable, ensuring
the well-being of our maritime community.

Fifthly,
our commitment to innovation and smart development has yielded remarkable
outcomes, further elevating our level of openness and cooperation. We have made
significant strides in the advancement of smart ports and smart waterways, with
16 automated container terminals already in operation and more than 10
currently under construction. This achievement positions us at the forefront
globally in terms of both completed and ongoing projects. The reach of our
national electronic waterway map now spans over 5,700 kilometers, with ongoing
efforts to enhance the connectivity of the electronic waterway map within the
Yangtze River system. The rapid development of digital and intelligent
transformation, including channel operation monitoring, coordinated dispatching
of cascade ship locks, and service area enhancements, is actively underway. In
addition, we are actively promoting the digital transformation of the shipping
sector, with a continued expansion of blockchain-based electronic shipping
platforms for imported shipping containers and bulk cargo. Furthermore, we are
exploring the application of electronic bills of lading in the shipping
industry. Internationally, we have fully opened our doors to the global
shipping community, signing 70 bilateral and regional shipping agreements with
66 countries and regions. Notably, the construction of the Shanghai
International Shipping Center is nearing completion, significantly bolstering
our international influence within the shipping sector. For 17 consecutive
years, China has been elected as a category A member of the International
Maritime Organization, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to global
maritime governance.