Why have global shipping leaders gathered by the Huangpu River for five consecutive years?

“Initially we were concerned about having too many similar forums domestically and internationally, and whether the North Bund International Shipping Forum could sustain itself. Unexpectedly, participants showed great enthusiasm and even proactively reserved spots for the next forum,” said a shipping exchange executive.

From the 19th to the 21st, the fifth North Bund International Shipping Forum was held at the World Meeting Room by the Huangpu River. Experts from over 50 countries and regions in the shipping industry and supply chain gathered on site, including many familiar faces. Amid rapid changes in global shipping patterns, why does this forum maintain such high return attendance, attracting global shipping leaders to return for five consecutive years?

Returning to the forum, the executive director of a major port authority still wore a pin symbolizing international friendship: “I wore it last year too, not for fashion, but to demonstrate the importance of bilateral cooperation.” In his view, compared to video calls and emails, face-to-face communication better sparks inspiration. “Industry peers from various countries share considerable consensus on issues like green shipping. This serves as both a learning platform and a bridge for friendship.”

Beyond providing opportunities for old friends to reunite, the forum also accelerates the realization of cooperative intentions. This marked the third attendance for a port authority vice president, who witnessed the signing of a declaration between two major ports to jointly build a green ro-ro shipping corridor.

In 2022, one port became Europe’s largest export port, automobile port, and integrated chemical cluster, with container transport volume between it and China exceeding 1.7 million TEUs. That same year, another port’s container throughput exceeded 47.3 million TEUs, maintaining its position as the world’s largest. As key global shipping hubs, this laid the groundwork for subsequent deeper cooperation between the two ports.

At the 2023 North Bund International Shipping Forum, the vice president exchanged views with Chinese shipping industry representatives, noting that their port serves as an important bunkering hub, already prepared for LNG bunkering and future adoption of alternative fuels to meet climate change goals.

Now that cooperative intentions have finally taken root, the vice president expressed satisfaction: “This collaboration involves not just two ports, but participants across the entire supply chain including shipping companies and terminals.”

This year’s forum opened earlier than previous editions. Many international shipping professionals found long-haul flights sold out when booking tickets and worried about arriving on time. “Everyone was concerned about how to get here promptly. I’m very glad I made it,” said a regular attendee for five consecutive years, who also serves as chairman of an international port association and CEO of a major European port. He didn’t want to miss this grand event: “Here I can communicate with various governments, shipping companies, and international organizations. With government support, cooperation becomes much easier to implement.”

A forum planning participant noted that “premium quality” and “internationalization” are key factors that differentiate this forum. From its inaugural session, the forum established a “government + international organizations + market entities” structure, being the only shipping forum in the country that consistently invited heads of UN specialized agencies. Additionally, each session releases over ten outcomes addressing industry hot topics.

As the platform improves and international organizations join, the cooperation facilitated by the forum continues to deepen and systematize, covering broader areas. Seeing continuous results materialize, industry leaders who understand the significance of international alignment have returned.

Unlike last year when she attended with just one colleague, this time she brought an 18-person team: “Last year’s experience was good, this year’s is even better. There are more outcomes than previous years, and I witnessed the grand scale of international cooperation.”

Today, the North Bund International Shipping Forum continues to expand China-foreign shipping cooperation, extending its reach to Belt and Road partner countries.

“If you seek cooperation, we are ready.” During this forum, a minister from an Asian country repeatedly emphasized this message.

Huangpu River

The Huangpu River is a 113-kilometer-long waterway flowing through Shanghai, dividing the city into its eastern Pudong and western Puxi districts. Historically, it served as a major shipping route and trading port, playing a crucial role in Shanghai’s development into a global economic hub. Today, its iconic waterfront skyline, featuring the historic Bund and modern Lujiazui skyscrapers, showcases the city’s blend of colonial heritage and contemporary growth.

North Bund International Shipping Forum

The North Bund International Shipping Forum is an annual maritime industry conference held in Shanghai, China. It serves as a key platform for global shipping leaders to discuss industry trends, technological innovation, and international cooperation. The forum was established to support Shanghai’s development as an international shipping hub and has grown in prominence since its inception.

World Meeting Room

The “World Meeting Room” is not a specific, widely recognized historical or cultural site. It is a generic term that typically refers to a conference or meeting space designed to host international gatherings. As such, it does not have a unique history, but symbolizes the modern concept of global collaboration and diplomacy.

UN specialized agencies

UN specialized agencies are autonomous international organizations that work with the United Nations to address specific global issues, such as health, education, and finance. They were established to coordinate international efforts and provide technical expertise in their respective fields, with many, like the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNESCO, being founded in the mid-20th century. These agencies operate under the UN’s umbrella but have their own membership, leadership, and budgets.

Belt and Road

The “Belt and Road” is not a single place but a major global infrastructure and economic development strategy launched by China in 2013. Inspired by the historical Silk Road trade routes, its goal is to enhance regional connectivity and trade between Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond through investments in infrastructure like ports, railways, and energy projects. It represents a modern initiative to foster economic cooperation across dozens of participating countries.

Europe’s largest export port

Europe’s largest export port is the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Rhine River fueled its growth, and it became the world’s busiest port in the 1960s. Today, it is a crucial logistics hub for goods entering and leaving the European continent.

automobile port

An automobile port, also known as a vehicle terminal or car port, is a specialized maritime facility for the import and export of vehicles. These ports feature extensive parking lots, specialized roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, and processing centers to handle large volumes of cars efficiently. They emerged as critical logistics hubs in the 20th century with the globalization of the automotive industry, facilitating trade between manufacturing centers and international markets.

integrated chemical cluster

An integrated chemical cluster is a large-scale industrial complex where multiple chemical plants and related facilities are co-located to share resources, infrastructure, and supply chains. This model, which became prominent in the 20th century, improves efficiency and reduces costs by allowing the by-products of one process to serve as raw materials for another. Prominent examples include sites like the Port of Rotterdam or Jurong Island in Singapore, which are central hubs for the global chemical industry.