From May 9 to 11, the 44th Meeting of the World Maritime University (WMU) Board of Governors was held in Malmö, Sweden. President Shan Hongjun attended the meeting in his capacity as a member of the Board. He was joined by Maximo Q. Mejia, President of WMU, serving as General-Secretary to the Board as well as over 20 governors from countries including the UK, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the Cook Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Vanuatu, Namibia, and the Philippines. The meeting was chaired by Arsenio A. Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Chairperson of the WMU Board of Governors.

The Board deliberated on more than 30 agenda items, including the WMU 2026-2027 Strategic Development Plan, risk management, external audits, the annual budget, endowment investments, academic development, scientific research, and adjustments to Master’s programs. Board members held individual discussions and shared their perspectives on each of these matters.

The Board noted with appreciation the successful operation of the "Maritime Safety and Environmental Management" Master’s program, a joint initiative between our university and the WMU. It was emphasized that the program has cultivated a significant number of outstanding maritime professionals for China and its neighboring countries.

During the meeting, President Shan Hongjun held a talk with Maximo Q. Mejia, President of the World Maritime University. President Shan reviewed the fruitful achievements of the partnership over the past 20 years. He stated that, in response to the global maritime industry's transition toward green and intelligent shipping, Dalian Maritime University (DMU) is willing to further deepen pragmatic cooperation with WMU. He proposed focusing on key areas such as intelligent navigation, the application of clean energy for ships, and global maritime governance, with a shared commitment to cultivating leading talents who possess both profound professional expertise and a broad international perspective. President Maximo Q. Mejia fully acknowledged the successful cooperation between the two universities and expressed his desire to continue deepening the partnership to jointly embrace the new opportunities and address the challenges facing the global maritime industry.

President Shan Hongjun and WMU President Maximo Q. Mejia visited Professor Cheng Dong of DMU, who currently serves as a "Chinese Chair" at the World Maritime University. They also held a symposium with DMU faculty and students currently at WMU, including visiting scholars, participants of the "Maritime Safety and Environmental Management" program, and students from the "Talent Training Program for Maritime-Related International Organizations." President Shan encouraged the group to make full use of WMU’s premium resources to continuously enhance their research and international communication skills, striving to become outstanding maritime professionals with both specialized expertise and a global perspective.