Shanghai: At the end of March central government anointed Shanghai as its chosen city to become an international financial and maritime centre. The following day a maritime delegation from Hong Kong jetted up to its east coast cousin to provide tips on how best to achieve this goal by the stated time of 2020.
Shanghai is increasingly the bell weather vane for world shipping. Chinese exports are vital to containerisation's return to health; Shanghai, as the world's second largest boxport and largest port overall, is watched avidly for its throughput figures.
No single corporate entity affects world bulk trades more than Shanghai steel mill giant Baosteel, while on the spare parts of the coastline that are not quaysides, some of the world's largest shipyards have been built.
Next year, Shanghai plays host to the World Expo, a chance to showcase its global ambitions 10 years ahead of official Beijing-stipulated crowning glory.
This year, Seatrade - in association with the prestigious Shanghai Jiao Tong University - debuts the China Maritime Congress held at the Pudong Shangri-La from June 24 to 26. A genuinely extraordinary line up of speakers are set to debate both Shanghai's position in world shipping and when we can expect the shipping markets to return.
Backed heavily by grand old names of China shipping such as OOCL and COSCO the Congress has a stellar cast and strong international supporting bodies that will ensure it will be the shipping showcase for the world's next great international maritime centre. More details can be found at www.chinamaritimecongress.com [05/05/09]
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