Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), who was invited to China to attend the 2026 North Bund Forum, made a special visit to Dalian Maritime University (DMU) from October 22 to 23. During the visit, DMU President Shan Hongjun held in-depth discussions with Dominguez on a range of issues of mutual interest, including cooperation between the University and IMO to advance the high-quality development of the global maritime sector and cultivate the next generation of maritime leaders.

On behalf of the University, Shan Hongjun welcomed Arsenio Dominguez on his first visit to DMU and expressed his gratitude to IMO for its longstanding support. He provided an overview of the University’s development and achievements in maritime education and talent development, scientific research, service to society, and international cooperation and exchange. Shan noted that DMU has consistently pursued a development path centered on maritime excellence and diversified cooperation, actively engaging in international maritime education and affairs. He highlighted the University’s longstanding partnership with IMO and the fruitful results of their cooperation over the years. Looking ahead, Shan expressed his hope that the two sides would build on their strong foundation of cooperation and further expand their partnership in response to key challenges facing the global maritime sector, including the green and low-carbon transition of international shipping, maritime digitalization, and the protection of seafarers’ rights and welfare. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties through talent development, supporting cooperation with scientific research, and leveraging collaborative platforms to address emerging challenges in the global maritime sector. Through these joint efforts, he hoped that DMU and IMO would contribute to a more equitable and inclusive framework for global maritime governance.

Arsenio Dominguez commended DMU for its outstanding achievements in maritime education and talent development, scientific research, and contributions to global maritime governance. He noted that shipping plays a vital role in sustaining the global economy and that, as the industry undergoes a green transition and digital transformation, there is an urgent need for highly qualified maritime professionals to support its continued development. He highlighted DMU’s distinctive strengths in maritime education and advanced research facilities, emphasizing the University’s indispensable role in supporting the implementation of the IMO’s strategic objectives, developing maritime professionals, and conducting research on international maritime conventions. Dominguez spoke highly of the achievements of the longstanding partnership between DMU and IMO. He expressed his hope that his visit would provide an opportunity to translate the understandings reached during the discussions into concrete actions, expand areas of cooperation, and deepen practical collaboration in maritime education and talent development, scientific research and innovation, and regional maritime capacity-building. Through these efforts, he hoped that both sides would work together to promote the high-quality development of the global shipping industry.

During his visit, Arsenio Dominguez held discussions with Yu Jiajia, a faculty member of DMU’s Navigation College and a nominee for the IMO Gender Equality Award; faculty representatives engaged in long-term research on IMO conventions, regulations, and emerging issues; student representatives who had previously completed internships at the IMO; international student representatives; and students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Maritime Management jointly offered by DMU and the World Maritime University (WMU).

During his visit to DMU, Arsenio Dominguez toured the Maritime Education Museum, the Ship Navigation Simulator, the new University Library, the Shore-Based Intelligent Operations and Control Center for Smart Ships, the National Engineering Research Center of Marine Navigation Systems, the International Maritime College, the International Maritime Conventions Research Center, and Xin Hong Zhuan, the University’s intelligent research and training vessel.

Before concluding his visit, Arsenio Dominguez left a written message for the University, praising the quality of its maritime education and training, its world-class teaching facilities, and its pioneering efforts to put regulations governing autonomous ships into practice. He expressed his sincere admiration for DMU’s contributions to the development of the shipping industry and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of maritime professionals, and looked forward to visiting the University again.

Li Tao, Second-Level Inspector and Deputy Director of the International Organizations Division of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Transport, accompanied Dominguez during his visit. Representatives from DMU’s International Cooperation and Exchange Office, Navigation College, Marine Engineering College, and International Maritime College participated in the relevant activities.