Lu Ming, director of Hongkou District, met with Guy Platten, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) on May 22, for in-depth discussions on the development of Shanghai as an international shipping center and opportunities for enhanced collaboration.
The meeting took place as ICS continues to strengthen its partnership with the district and deepen engagement with China’s maritime sector.
Founded in 1921 and headquartered in London, the ICS is a prominent global shipping organization and an official observer at the International Maritime Organization.
It plays a significant role in international maritime affairs and policy. To expand its cooperation with China and support the country's involvement in global maritime governance, ICS established its China Office in Hong Kong in November 2019.
In January 2023, the China Shipowners’ Association formally joined ICS as a member. Later that year, during the North Bund International Shipping Forum in September, ICS announced the opening of its Shanghai Representative Office to further support the city’s ambitions.
In recent years, ICS has actively participated in major shipping events hosted at the North Bund, including the North Bund International Shipping Forum and the Green Shipping Development Community.
Through these activities, ICS and Hongkou have built and sustained a strong cooperative relationship.
During the meeting, Lu welcomed the ICS delegation and underscored the strategic importance of Shanghai’s development as an international shipping center.
He noted that the North Bund serves as the city’s core zone for shipping development and is rapidly emerging as a global hub for maritime resource allocation.
He commended ICS for its ongoing support and highlighted the establishment of the Shanghai Representative Office as a vital step in strengthening bilateral ties.
Lu expressed hopes that both sides would use the meeting as a starting point to intensify collaboration on preparations for the next North Bund International Shipping Forum.
He emphasized the need to elevate the forum’s international profile and explore joint initiatives in digital transformation and green, low-carbon shipping development.
These areas, he said, are critical to advancing the quality and sustainability of Shanghai’s shipping industry and to contributing to the global maritime community.
Platten thanked Hongkou for its longstanding support and affirmed ICS’s commitment to deepening its partnership with China, particularly with Shanghai and Hongkou.
He acknowledged China’s crucial role in the global shipping industry and praised the North Bund International Shipping Forum as a key platform for international maritime dialogue.
Platten voiced confidence in jointly organizing a successful future forum that tackles industry-leading issues and delivers practical outcomes.
He also expressed ICS’s intention to expand cooperation with Hongkou across a range of domains. By leveraging complementary strengths, the two sides can improve the efficiency of international maritime resource exchange and support the global industry’s green and sustainable transformation.
ICS also hopes to help boost China’s role and influence in international maritime governance through continued collaboration.