On the afternoon of March 26, the COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Global Partner Conference 2026 convened in Guangzhou. President Shan Hongjun of Dalian Maritime University (DMU) was invited to attend the conference and delivered a keynote speech titled “Ride the Trend, Gain an Edge: Building a World-Class Specialized Carrier Enterprise to Support the Development of a Strong Maritime Transport Nation.”

President Shan shared research findings from relevant DMU teams and his personal observations and reflections, focusing on four aspects: “Industry Transformation, Specialized Carrier Strategy, Future Outlook, and DMU’s Support.” He analyzed the current international shipping landscape, geopolitical shifts, and emerging trends in the export of high-end equipment. He emphasized that the global shipping industry is currently facing multiple challenges and opportunities, including the reshaping of the shipping landscape by geopolitical changes, the restructuring of cargo composition driven by energy transition and industrial upgrading, and the transformation of competition dimensions through digitalization, intelligence, and green development. Against this backdrop, COSCO Shipping Specialized has been proactively innovating and seeking change, actively transitioning from “channel services” to “supply chain organizers,” while continuously strengthening its core advantages in specialized transport. President Shan stated that in response to the high-quality development needs of the specialized transport sector, DMU is willing to leverage its distinctive strengths to deepen practical cooperation with COSCO Shipping Specialized and other industry partners. The cooperation will focus on breakthroughs in core technologies, the supply of high-quality interdisciplinary talent, and joint efforts in strategic research and standard setting, contributing to the accelerated development of China’s strength in transportation, maritime affairs, and maritime transport.

At the conference, President Shan, on behalf of DMU, participated in initiating the Greater Bay Area Consensus.

Themed “Seize the Day, with Wisdom Pave the Way,” the COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Global Partner Conference 2026 attracted over 500 enterprises and more than 1,200 participants from government agencies, port and shipping companies, universities and research institutions, and partners across the global specialized transport industry chain.