On the morning of today (October 15), the press briefing for 2024 North Bund Forum under the series of “Promoting High-Quality Development” was held. Gao Haiyun, the second-level inspector of the Water Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Transport, introduced the development of China’s shipping and aviation industry, and Yu Fulin, director of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, introduced the development of the Shanghai International Shipping Center and the overall arrangements for 2024 North Bund Forum. Chen Shuai, deputy chief of Hongkou District, Shanghai, Wan Qingchao, deputy general manager of China Eastern Air Holding, Luo Hu, deputy director of the Research Center of China COSCO Shipping Corp, and Shi Xin, vice president of Shanghai Maritime University, attended the press briefing and answered questions from reporters.(I)Over the past year, China has made significant progress in advancing the high-quality development of water transport.First, improvements in infrastructure network. Efforts to optimize key water transport routes and expand major waterways have progressed steadily. Several waterway regulation projects in the middle Yangtze River have been completed, and the Jianghuai Canal is now fully navigable. The Pinglu Canal project has received over 40 billion yuan in investment, with more than 50% of construction funds already spent. Additionally, capacity at key cargo terminals has been bolstered, with major projects such as the container terminal in Shanghai’s Xiaoyangshan North Operation Area moving forward smoothly. In the first eight months of this year, water transport infrastructure investment reached 138.35 billion yuan, a further 9.6% increase from last year’s relatively high basis. Second, fleet structure and capacity upgrades. We have continued to refine the transport capacity structure, with notable improvements in the size, specialization, and standardization of vessels. By the end of last year, the average net deadweight of commercial transport ships had increased to 2,540 tons per ship, surpassing 2022 levels. A new subsidy policy for scrapping and renewing aging ships, jointly formulated with the National Development and Reform Commission, has also accelerated fleet renewal. China’s international shipping fleet remains one of the largest globally, with a total capacity of 430 million deadweight tons by the end of September in 2024, accounting for 18.7% of the world fleet.Third, enhanced transport service capabilities. Port service quality and efficiency have seen sustained improvement, with port operations maintaining a positive trajectory. From January to August this year, cargo throughput reached 11.51 billion tons and container throughput reached 220 million TEUs, up 3.7% and 8.2% year on year, respectively. We have also implemented multiple measures to enhance shipping services, ensuring the smooth sea transport of exported vehicles as well as key materials like grain, energy, and ore, while contributing to the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains.Fourth, cost reduction and efficiency gains. Efforts to deepen transportation structure adjustments are yielding results, with substantial progress in shifting bulk cargo transport from road to rail and water. Rail-water transportation continued to developed rapidly. From January to August this year, the national rail-water container transport volume reached 7.78 million TEUs, a 17.7% year-on-year increase. Additionally, water passenger transport services are improving, with popular domestic water tourism routes receiving widespread praise. International cruise transport has fully resumed since last September, with 950,000 cruise passengers over the past year, sparking new consumption.Fifth, accelerated smart and green transformation. We are advancing smart port and smart waterway development, with several automated terminals, including the Luojing Port in Shanghai, now operational. China has built 49 automated terminals, maintaining global leadership in this area. The coverage of electronic navigation charts has expanded, now spanning over 7,800 kilometers of high-grade waterways. Digital shipping and trade initiatives are also progressing, with the use of electronic cargo releases and electronic bills of lading expanding. Over 170,000 electronic bills of lading were issued in the past year, further positioning China as a leader in this field. We have made significant strides in promoting the green transformation of energy consumption in ports and shipping. In ports, the pilot project for green port development and transportation power construction at Huanghua Port’s coal terminal passed its acceptance phase this year. The coverage of shore power facilities at major coastal hub ports has now exceeded 90%. Additionally, in April, Shanghai Port successfully completed China’s first “ship-to-ship” green methanol refueling operation. On the shipping front, the first domestically developed and constructed river-to-sea purely electric container ship is now in operation. Furthermore, the pilot project for the promotion and application of methanol-powered ocean-going vessels, organized by leading Chinese shipping companies, has been included in the Ministry of Transport’s initial batch of special pilot projects aimed at building a green and low-carbon transportation system.Sixth, deeper international shipping cooperation. China’s international shipping collaboration continues to expand. This year, we signed maritime transport agreements with Antigua and Barbuda, and renewed an agreement with Liberia. China now holds bilateral and multilateral agreements with 69 countries and regions. Efforts are also underway to enhance the capabilities of China’s modern shipping services industry, with five ministries jointly issuing the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the High-quality Development of Modern Shipping Service Industry. Shanghai remains ranked third in the International Shipping Center Development Index, and events like China’s National Maritime Day and the North Bund Forum are gaining greater international influence.In the next phase, China will deepen comprehensive transportation system reforms, deliver on the priorities on water transport reforms, advance high-quality water transport development, and contribute to building a modern transportation power, in line with China’s modernization goals.(II)Over the past year, Shanghai has achieved significant milestones in building a global shipping hub, enhancing shipping service capabilities, and advancing the digitalization, intelligence, and green transformation for the shipping center.First, the construction of an international sea and air hub has progressed steadily. On the maritime front, seaport throughput has risen consistently, significantly boosting connectivity. According to the 2024 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Center Development Index Report, Shanghai retained its third-place ranking, solidifying its role as a leading international shipping center. From January to September 2024, Shanghai Port recorded a container throughput of 39.102 million TEUs, an 8% year-on-year increase. The first phase of the Luojing Container Port has officially opened, featuring one 100,000-ton berth and four 10,000-ton berths, with a designed annual throughput of 2.6 million TEUs. This port serves as a critical hub connecting Yangtze River and sea transportation, significantly improving the efficiency and capacity of Shanghai Port. The proportion of water-to-water transshipment at Shanghai Port reached 60.6%, while sea-rail transport achieved 727,000 TEUs, a 38.6% year-on-year increase, further enhancing the port’s logistics network. In the aviation sector, accessibility continues to improve, and the aviation market is recovering rapidly. From January to September 2024, Shanghai’s two major airports handled 602,000 flights, 93.433 million passengers, and 3.072 million tons of cargo and mail, reflecting year-on-year growth of 17.8%, 33.5%, and 12%, respectively — figures now comparable to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Moreover, the cruise industry has restarted international routes, with supporting industries expanding rapidly. In early 2024, China’s first domestically-built large cruise ship, Adora Magic City, began operations, serving over 250,000 passengers. Spectrum of the Seas, from Royal Caribbean, and MSC Bellissima, the largest cruise ship in Asia, have also returned to China. From January to September, Shanghai Port welcomed 175 international cruise berthings, with a passenger throughput of 1.0465 million, recovering to 70% of 2019 levels. The construction of China’s second domestically-built large cruise ship is also advancing, with delivery expected by the end of 2026.Second, shipping services have steadily improved. In shipping finance and insurance, noteworthy achievements include PICC Property and Casualty Insurance’s launch of the world's first multimodal container cargo transportation insurance plan compliant with the “one-order system” and China Pacific Insurance’s introduction of the first EU carbon emissions cost index insurance for the shipping industry in China. SCFIS (Europe) futures successfully completed three rounds of deliveries, with volumes and activity far surpassing similar overseas products. In addition, maritime judicial arbitration has seen breakthroughs. The innovation of the maritime arbitration system has accelerated, forming a comprehensive framework of temporary arbitration rules and regulations. The establishment of the shipping law community and the first joint meeting marks the initial steps in creating a legal ecosystem led by the government, industry, and market players.Third, the green, digital and smart transformations of Shanghai Shipping Center are deepening. Shanghai Port has expanded LNG refueling for international ships from Yangshan to the entire port, significantly boosting both refueling capacity and scale. It also became the first Chinese port to offer green methanol “ship-to-ship” refueling for large container ships. On the international front, Shanghai has strengthened its role in green shipping through initiatives like the Port of Shanghai- Port of Los Angeles Port Green Shipping Corridor. A full working mechanism is now in place, and the China-US Green Shipping Corridor Working Conference this year further solidified shared goals and collaboration. Shanghai is also driving digitalization in shipping trade, with a growing use of electronic bills of lading and e-releases. From January to September 2024, Shanghai Port completed over 310,000 electronic releases, covering more than 930,000 TEUs.As the global economic and trade landscape continues to evolve, the shipping industry faces new challenges and opportunities. Shanghai will leverage 2024 North Bund Forum as a platform to advance digitalization, intelligence, and green initiatives, with a focus on improving efficiency, expanding functionality, and driving innovation. By strengthening its high-end shipping services, developing the next generation of smart and green ports, and deepening international cooperation, Shanghai will continue to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the global shipping industry.Overall Arrangements for 2024 North Bund Forum:The 2024 North Bund Forum is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, and organized by the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission, Shanghai Hongkou District People’s Government, China COSCO Shipping Corp, China Eastern Air Holding Company, Shanghai International Port Group, Shanghai Airport Authority, and Shanghai Maritime University, among others.The forum will take place at the Grand Halls on North Bund from October 22 to 24, under the theme “Digital, Smart and Green: Co-creating a New Ecosystem of Global Shipping and Aviation.”The event will feature an opening ceremony, two main forums, and five thematic forums. The opening ceremony will welcome distinguished guests, including domestic and international government ministers and heads of authoritative international organizations, who will deliver keynote speeches. The two main forums, International Shipping Forum and International Aviation Forum, will address the themes “How to Cope with Uncertainties through High-Quality Development in the Shipping Industry” and “Delight Flight, Intelligent Sky —— Creating a New Future of Aviation.” Experts and representatives from the shipping, aviation, and industrial sectors will be invited to exchange insights and share perspectives. The five thematic forums will focus on key topics such as Maritime Traffic Safety, Digitalization and Intelligentization, Decarbonizing Shipping and Ports, Judiciary and Arbitration and Finance and Insurance. The forum is expected to attract around 4,000 in-person participants from approximately 50 countries and regions. In addition, the event will be livestreamed globally in both Chinese and English, in collaboration with over 10 domestic and international media outlets.