Ningbo Hosts Blue Economy Roundtables with Global Partners
On July 17, high-profile forums and an industry expo focusing on the ocean economy kicked off in Ningbo, a port city located on the coast of the East China Sea.
Altogether, two forums and one expo were convened, namely the Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum (MPF), the International Marine Economy and Maritime Services Forum (IMES), and the China (Ningbo) Marine Economy Expo. These major events garnered delegates from the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization, diplomats stationed in China, peers from domestic and overseas port industries, executives of multinational corporations, as well as experts and scholars from research institutions. They convened to cooperate on a blueprint for Ningbo to stride towards a global maritime hub.
Enterprise representative taking media interview at the MPF forum. (credit: Zhou Hui)
Anchored to the world’s largest port, Ningbo thrives from developing its blue economy and this coastal city has made remarkable strides in recent years:
Statistics show that Ningbo’s blue economy gross domestic product (GDP) has surged from 16 billion yuan in 2002 to 230.7 billion yuan in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 14.4%. It accounted for 14.7% of the city’s GDP and contributed 21% to the added value of Zhejiang’s ocean economy.
Ningbo Zhoushan Port has ranked as the world’s top cargo throughput for 14 consecutive years and is the third-largest container port globally. The current plan targets a blue economy GDP of 320 billion yuan by 2025.
A view of Ningbo Zhoushan Port. (credit: Liu Bo)
A view of Ningbo Zhoushan Port. (credit: Tang Jiankai)
As one of the three major roundtable events, MPF has been held 7 times, receiving widespread recognition and praise from all sectors of society. This year’s MPF – themed “Our Time, Our Road, Our Ports” – includes a main forum, a senior-level round-table meeting, four thematic forums, as well as multiple off-site activities.
The annual IMES was held for the second time this year. With the theme of “developing blue partnerships and supporting marine economy”, it aims to forge an international platform for blue cooperation and exchange, foster diverse blue economy partnerships, and navigate uncharted waters for the development and cooperation of the global blue economy.
The China (Ningbo) Marine Economy Expo is jointly organized by Ningbo Municipal People’s Government, Informa Markets, a top globally-renowned exhibition group, and China Shipowners’ Association. Focusing on the mantra “Blue Silk Road Linking the World”, it showcased excellent products, cutting-edge technologies, and application achievements in the blue economy sector from home and abroad. The expo was held at Ningbo International Convention and Exhibition Center, spanning an exhibition area of 22,000 square meters, welcoming more than 300 domestic and foreign enterprises with blue businesses.
Focusing on the key points in the integrated development of Ningbo’s port, industry, city, and culture, these events gathered domestic and international experts to cooperate on propelling Ningbo into a global maritime hub.
The forums and expo featured a wide range of activities, each with its unique focus. The interaction assortment included professional forums for knowledge sharing, salons for social interactions and gatherings and encompassed online and offline activities for guests from both home and abroad. Additionally, online services have been updated to include virtual exhibitions, live streaming and cloud photo albums.
Journalist: Zhou Hui
Translator: Pan Wenjie
Proofreaders: Yao Zhanhong, Puyang Rong, Jason Mowbray
