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Record attendance likely for November's World Shipping Summit

Record attendance likely for November's World Shipping Summit

Beijing: More than 1,000 delegates are expected to flock to Dalian this November for the fifth edition of Cosco's World Shipping (China) Summit. A stellar line up of speakers was unveiled at a press conference in Beijing today. Well known analyst Stephen Roach, chairman of Morgan Stanley's Asian operations, will speak at the event, as will the ceos of Seaspan, CSAV, Emirates, and Cosco, the presidents of NYK, China Shipping, K Line, and Sinotrans.
Described as the "Davos" of the shipping industry, the central theme for the two and a half day event will be "Navigating Cross-Currents". Cosco vice president Capt Zhang Leon noted that obstacles for the industry include the sub-prime credit crisis, the liquidity crunch, the depreciation of the US currency, soaring oil prices "all serving to make the shipping market more unpredictable". He also warned that the industry's "exposure to capital markets will also make it more vulnerable." The summit will address all of these concerns when it convenes on 6-7 November.
The event coincides with the sixth edition of Shiport China which is running this year from 5 to 8 November. The city of Dalian is positioning the whole week as a dedicated Maritime Week with Mayor Xia Deren also on the World Shipping Summit roster. A special maritime report on Dalian is due out shortly in the bumper September/October issue of Seatrade.  [27/8/08]