Shanghai to speed up building top-class global shipping centre: Mayor

Xi said China is willing to work with other countries to overcome the difficulties, adapt to the new development trend of green, low-carbon and intelligent shipping, and deepen international cooperation on shipping.

The city also aims to promote de-carbonisation and enhance cooperation with the international shipping industry, Gong was quoted as saying by Chinese media reports.

Shanghai was ranked third in the international shipping center ranking in the 2021 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report, which evaluated the comprehensive performances of 43 global cities with port and shipping services.

According to the city's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) on international shipping centre construction, its annual container throughput will reach at least 47 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) by 2025, the annual throughput of air-passenger travel will reach at least 130 million, and the annual throughput of cargo ships will reach over 4.1 million tonnes.

More than 10 companies and organisations, including COSCO Shipping, China Eastern Airlines and the Baltic and the International Maritime Council, signed the ‘2021 Shanghai Initiative’ to safeguard the cross-border transportation of anti-epidemic materials while protecting the health and safety of workers involved, to gradually restore the global supply chain system.

"We must continue to work very closely together at the multilateral level to revitalize international exchanges and cooperation, and enhance the development of global tourism and trade to drive increased prosperity for all," said Stephen Creamer, director of the Air Navigation Bureau at The International Civil Aviation Organization.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)