On the afternoon of December 5, the 11th Annual Conference of "China Shipping 50 Forum" and the Symposium on China Merchants Group was held in Shenzhen. Attending the conference are Xu Zuyuan, Chief Expert for Decision-making Consultation of China Association for Science and Technology and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport, Feng Boming, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Group, Wang Jianhua, Director of Shenzhen Maritime Safety Administration, Huang Youfang, Director of the Teaching Steering Committee on Logistics under the Ministry of Education and former President of Shanghai Maritime University, Fei Weijun, former Director of the Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport, Zhang Ye, former President of Shanghai Shipping Exchange, and Ni Wei, President of China Shipping Gazette. Other honorary members, executive committee members of the forum, and young entrepreneurs of the industry were also present. Shan Hongjun, President of Dalian Maritime University, as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the "China Shipping 50 Forum" for 2023-2024, attended and chaired the meeting.

The theme of the conference was "How to Utilize ESG as a New Productive Force to Promote the High-Quality Development of the Port and Shipping Logistics Industry." The participants focused on discussions about how the port and shipping logistics industry can make use of ESG to facilitate carbon peeking and carbon neutrality action, fulfill social responsibilities, promote technological innovation, enhance institutional discourse power, and achieve sustainable development and beyond.

In his summary, Shan Hongjun noted that in the context of globalization and sustainable development, shipping, as an important pillar for global trade and economic development, is facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities. ESG, as an important indicator of a company’s sustainable development, provides a new path for the high-quality development of the shipping industry. He emphasized that shipping companies should actively embrace ESG transformation, align with the national carbon peeking and carbon neutrality goals, keep up with the development of international green emission reduction technologies and laws, adjust their competition strategies accordingly, strengthen pragmatic cooperation with all sectors of the industry, and explore energy-saving and emission-reduction solutions and technological routes that are suitable for the actual development. This will contribute to the green, low-carbon, and sustainable development of the shipping industry.

At the conference, Xu Zuyuan presented honorary plaques to the retired members of the forum’s executive committee, and Shan Hongjun awarded commemorative plaques to the young entrepreneurs joining the forum.

"China Shipping 50 Forum" was jointly initiated by five organizations including Dalian Maritime University, Shanghai Maritime University, the Waterborne Transport Research Institute under the Ministry of Transport, the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, and China Shipping Gazette. It was established on December 21, 2013, in Beijing. The forum aims to develop into a high-end think tank for the shipping industry, promoting the exchange of theoretical ideas and innovative practices within the industry, and serving the transformation and development of China’s shipping industry.