On the morning of May 27, the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum opened at the Ningbo International Conference Center in Zhejiang Province. President Shan Hongjun of Dalian Maritime University was invited to attend the opening ceremony and participate in a series of related events held during the forum.

On the afternoon of May 27, President Shan Hongjun was invited to attend the Innovation of Port Technology Forum, hosted by the China Ports & Harbors Association and co-organized by China Transport News and Port Science &Technology. During the event, President Shan presented awards to the first-prize winners of the China Ports & Harbors Association Science and Technology Award. On behalf of DMU, Professor Hu Mingjiu, Dean of the Institute of Social Sciences (and the Shipping Development Research Institute), signed a cooperation agreement with the China Ports & Harbors Association.

On the morning of May 28, President Shan Hongjun was invited to attend the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Legal and Commercial Affairs Committee of the China Ports & Harbors Association. He delivered a keynote speech titled “Enhancing China’s Influence and Discourse Power in the Formulation of International Maritime Conventions.” In his remarks, President Shan provided a brief overview of recent developments in international maritime conventions and introduced the innovative efforts of Dalian Maritime University in cultivating high-caliber international legal professionals in the maritime field. He also shared expert insights on China’s positioning in the evolving landscape of maritime conventions and how the country can strengthen its influence and voice in global maritime governance.

On the afternoon of May 28, President Shan Hongjun was invited to attend the Forum on Maritime Law and Arbitration, where he delivered a speech on behalf of the forum’s co-organizers and presided over the Maritime Law Dialogue session. In his remarks, President Shan provided a brief overview of Dalian Maritime University’s achievements in advancing the construction of high-end think tanks in the maritime field and supporting the development of the rule of law in the shipping industry. He emphasized that a sound legal environment is a critical pillar for the high-quality development of the port and shipping sector. Such an environment fosters a dynamic yet orderly market atmosphere, encouraging innovation and creativity among market players. President Shan pointed out that despite progress, the industry continues to face numerous legal challenges and unresolved issues. He expressed the hope that stakeholders across the sector would work together to explore effective approaches and solutions, continuously improve the maritime legal system, and promote innovation in maritime arbitration. These efforts, he noted, are essential to providing robust legal support for the high-quality development of the port and shipping industry.

During the Forum on Maritime Law and Arbitration, Dalian Maritime University also released its latest think tank publication, the English edition of China’s Ocean Governance Development Report (2024).

The 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum, themed “Green Sharing, Smart Connectivity,” brought together over 1,000 participants. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the Tianjin Municipality and Zhejiang Province, diplomatic missions and consulates in China, port and maritime authorities from countries and regions across six continents, as well as leaders and guests from domestic and international shipping and logistics enterprises, universities and research institutions, and stakeholders across the port and maritime industry chain.