On June 6, the 2026 Shipping Technology Cooperation and Innovation Conference, hosted by Dalian Maritime University (DMU), was held in Shanghai. During the conference, the Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute was officially inaugurated, marking its establishment in Shanghai.

Attending the conference were Hong Shanxiang, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Communications, the predecessor of today’s Ministry of Transport; Xu Zuyuan and He Jianzhong, former Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Transport; Ye Xing, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Transport; Qi Yan, Party Secretary and Director of the Development Research Center of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Qiu Ming, Party Secretary and Director of the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration; Zhang Tiejun, Director of the Yangtze Estuary Waterway Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Transport; Li Siqiang, Party Secretary of the East China Sea Rescue Bureau of the Ministry of Transport; Li Zewei, Director of the Shanghai Salvage Bureau of the Ministry of Transport; Chen Yu, Party Secretary and Chairman of Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Sun Jiakang, former Deputy Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited; Xie Chunlin, former Chairman of China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd.; Sun Yuqing, former Party Secretary and President of DMU and Director of the Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute; Gu Jinshan, President of the China Ports and Harbours Association; Liu Shanghai, Executive Vice President of the China Shipowners’ Association; Cheng Yunyu, Director of the Shanghai Office of the Liaoning Provincial People’s Government; Lu Yanhui, Deputy General Manager of the Technology and Innovation Division of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited; Hu Bin, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd.; and Shan Hongjun and Zeng Qingcheng, President and Vice President of DMU, respectively.

On behalf of the university, President Shan Hongjun extended a warm welcome to all the leaders, distinguished guests, experts, scholars, and alumni present at the conference, and expressed sincere gratitude to all sectors of society that have long cared for and supported the construction and development of the university. He noted that shipping is integral to national development. As the national strategies of building China into a strong transportation, maritime, and shipping nation continue to advance in depth, and as Shanghai International Shipping Center moves toward higher-quality development, digitalization, intelligent technologies, and green development have become defining trends in the future of shipping. industry. How to promote high-quality development in areas such as high-end shipping services, intelligent vessel research and development, green and low-carbon shipping, and international maritime rule of law is an era proposition that the industry must, and is obligated to, respond to.

He emphasized that DMU has always adhered to the principles of being rooted in the shipping industry, serving national needs and maintaining a global vision. Focusing on the high-quality development needs of the shipping industry, the university has advanced the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent in a coordinated manner. The official establishment of the Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute represents a key strategic move by the university to proactively align with the construction of Shanghai International Shipping Center and serve the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta. It is also a solemn declaration of the university’s commitment, on the new journey of supporting the accelerated development of China as a strong transportation and shipping nation, to driving industrial transformation through scientific and technological innovation and to pooling development momentum through open cooperation.

Looking ahead, he stated, DMU sincerely looks forward to joining hands with all parties under the development philosophy of cooperation, empowerment, and sharing. Centering on the needs of the industry and the demands of Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta region, the university will integrate resources from all sides to promote the simultaneous implementation of scientific and technological innovation, think tank research, talent training and practice, and achievement incubation. It will also strive to build the research institute into both an innovation engine and an intellectual powerhouse that supports the upgrading of Shanghai International Shipping Center and the high-quality development of the shipping industry in surrounding regions, and contribute its strength to the accelerated development of China as a strong transportation and shipping nation.

Ye Xing noted that the global shipping industry is currently undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. A new wave of technological and industrial transformation, driven by digitalization, intelligent technologies, and green development, is reshaping global supply chains. Against the backdrop of the green and low-carbon transition and growing demands for supply chains that are secure, efficient, and resilient, technological innovation has become an imperative for the industry’s development. He emphasized that in recent years, Shanghai has actively implemented the national innovation-driven development strategy and the initiative to foster new quality productive forces. By advancing the shipping industry’s transformation toward digitalization, intelligence, and sustainability in a coordinated manner, and leveraging Shanghai’s strengths in trade and logistics as well as its concentration of leading shipping enterprises, the city has promoted high-quality development of the shipping sector through technological innovation, institutional innovation, and international cooperation, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness and influence of the Shanghai International Shipping Center. Looking ahead, he expressed the hope that Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute would serve as a platform for deeper cooperation between Shanghai and DMU in areas such as maritime education, scientific research, and talent cultivation. Through these efforts, the two sides can work together to address key challenges facing the industry and support the Shanghai International Shipping Center in reaching new heights.

Xu Zuyuan noted that amid profound adjustments to global supply chains and the accelerating transformation of green and low-carbon regulatory frameworks, shipping is no longer merely a matter of transportation. It is also closely linked to the security of national industrial and supply chains, energy security, and the security of maritime rights and interests. In this context, advancing technological innovation in shipping and fostering new quality productive forces have become essential requirements for the industry’s high-quality development. He emphasized that, looking ahead, the shipping industry must remain committed to innovation-driven development, green development, openness and cooperation, and talent-led growth. He called for greater efforts to build consensus, pool resources, and leverage the strengths of all stakeholders. Xu noted that DMU has long advanced in step with the development of China’s maritime and shipping sector. The establishment of Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute represents not only a significant achievement in university-local government cooperation but also an innovative initiative in support of national strategic priorities. He expressed the hope that all parties would take this conference as an opportunity to deepen exchanges, strengthen consensus, and work together to achieve new breakthroughs in shipping technology innovation, thereby contributing wisdom and expertise to the high-quality development of the shipping industry and the development of the Shanghai International Shipping Center.

Witnessed by all attending guests, Hong Shanxiang, Xu Zuyuan, He Jianzhong, Shan Hongjun, Sun Yuqing and Ye Xing jointly unveiled the plaque for the Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute.

Sun Yuqing, the inaugural Director of the Institute, stated that it will adhere to five core orientations: building a hub for formulating international maritime rules, establishing a full-chain maritime science and technology innovation center, developing a regional hub for the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements, fostering a base for high-end shipping talents, and creating a service platform for shipping alumni. Guided by the principle of “Rooted in Shanghai, reaching out to the world, and forging ahead for maritime prosperity”, the Institute will continue to strengthen efforts and take targeted actions in technological innovation, achievement commercialization, talent cultivation and alumni services, contributing the strength of DMU to the development of Shanghai as an international shipping center and the realization of China’s vision of a powerful maritime nation.

During the event, on behalf of the university, Shan Hongjun signed cooperation agreements and a joint initiative on shipping finance talent training with 49 institutions.

In the academic report session, Professor Zhang Xinyu from the Navigation College, Research Fellow Zhang Shuang from the Shipping Development Research Institute, Professor Chen Ping from the College of Maritime Economics and Management, and Yu Hang, General Manager of Shanghai Linli Technology Co., Ltd., delivered keynote presentations and shared their research findings. Their topics covered integrated organization and scheduling of port and shipping operations, progress in international shipping GHG emission reduction policies and trends of green transition, as well as geopolitical conflicts, maritime security and the shipping financial market.

In the afternoon, the closed-door themed meeting entitled “Strengthening Financial Momentum, Forging Ahead with Talents, Empowering Development through Technology: Jointly Building a New Ecosystem for High-Quality Development of the Shipping Finance Industry” was held at  Dalian Maritime University Shanghai International Shipping Research Institute. President Shan Hongjun of DMU and senior managers from well-known shipping and financial institutions delivered keynote speeches covering six core themes at the meeting. The speakers included Xing Yue, General Manager of Clarksons Research China; Wang Xiang, Greater China General Manager of Veson Nautical; Jing Ge, Executive General Manager of the Maritime Asset Operations Department at ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.; Gao Changfeng, Chairman of Shandong Shipping Corporation; and Han Yanbin, President of APM Terminals China. Their presentations focused respectively on discipline construction and talent training for shipping finance, global shipping and financing markets, technology-enabled digital upgrading of the shipping industry, financial packages for green shipping transition, innovative shipping finance practices, as well as the growth trajectory of shipping finance in China. Subsequently, attending guests and experts conducted thorough dialogues centering on interdisciplinary talent cultivation, digitally empowered high-quality shipping finance development, innovative finance models amid green transition and relevant regional practical experiences.

The conference was attended by more than 200 attendants in total, including institutional representatives, experts, scholars and alumni representatives. They came from China Classification Society Shanghai Branch, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai Office of Dalian Municipal People’s Government, affiliates of COSCO Shipping Group, China Merchants Group and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd., Shandong Shipping Corporation, China Maritime Arbitration Commission, Shanghai Maritime Court, Huayang Maritime Center Co., Ltd., ABC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., SITC International Holdings Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Pilot Station. Also present were delegates from government authorities, research institutes and industry associations, as well as enterprises and institutions covering all links along the shipping industrial chain: ocean transportation, maritime services, shipbuilding, ship survey, legal affairs & finance, shipping technology and other relevant sectors.

This event received strong support from the China Shipowners’ Association (CSA), Huayang Maritime Center Co., Ltd., Shandong Shipping Corporation, Dalian Pan World Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Fangheyuan Logistics Co., Ltd., the University’s Finance Alumni Association and Shanghai Alumni Association.