From May 26 to 29, the 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum (MPF 2025) was held in Ningbo. The President of Shanghai Maritime University, Chu Beiping, along with research teams from disciplines such as Management Science and Engineering, was invited to attend and participated in various activities. Through releasing authoritative industry reports, delivering keynote speeches, and engaging in discussions at thematic forums, they showcased the university's industry influence in fields like port and shipping management, maritime law, smart pilotage, and multimodal transport.
At the main forum, Zhang Jieshu, Secretary-General of Shanghai International Shipping Institute, presented the Global Ports Development Report (2024), which closely examines new concepts, technologies, methods, and models emerging in port development, providing support for the sustainable development of the port industry.
During the Innovation of Port Technology Forum held concurrently, President Chu Beiping delivered a keynote speech titled Building a Maritime Data Ecosystem Innovation Industry-Academia-Research Community, sharing the university's technological innovations and mechanisms for solving pain points such as maritime data sharing. At the event, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed by five parties: the China Ports and Harbours Association, the Tianjin Research Institute of Water Transport Engineering of the Ministry of Transport, Shanghai Maritime University, Dalian Maritime University, and Huawei. At the subsequent award ceremony, Professor Xu Xiaoyan's research team from the Logistics Engineering College won the Second Prize of the 2024 China Ports and Harbours Association Scientific and Technological Progress Award, while Professor Chao Zhimin from the College of Ocean Science and Engineering received the China Ports and Harbours Association Youth Science and Technology Award.
In the Maritime Law and Maritime Arbitration thematic forum, President Chu Beiping delivered a keynote speech titled The Process and Key Issues in the Amendment of the Maritime Commercial Law, sharing the contributions of SMU to the revision of the Maritime Commercial Law, particularly addressing the theoretical controversies and focal points surrounding voyage charter party contracts and offering relevant solutions.
In the Sustainable Development of Ports and Shipping thematic forum, Professor Zhang Chunxiang from the Merchant Marine College delivered a keynote speech titled International Shipping Sustainable Fuel Carbon Footprint Certification System, sharing SMU's work in the development of a sustainable fuel certification system for shipping and the establishment of the Shanghai International Shipping Carbon Footprint Management Association.
In the Pilotage Safety and Cooperative Development thematic forum, Professor Hu Shenping from the Merchant Marine College delivered a keynote speech titled Evolution of Pilotage Technology, while Director of the International Office, Ruan Wei, hosted the forum.
In the Land-Sea Intermodal Transport and End-to-End Logistics thematic forum, Professor Wang Chuanxu from the School of Economics and Management was invited to participate in a theme salon exchange, discussing topics related to improving the efficiency of land-sea linkage.
During the annual meeting of the Legal and Business Professional Committee of the China Ports and Harbours Association, President Chu Beiping delivered a keynote speech titled Hot Legal Issues in the Revision of Maritime Commercial Law, sharing his views on issues such as the scope of adjustments in the Maritime Commercial Law and key amendments to specific chapters.
The 2025 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum featured a main opening ceremony, a high-level roundtable, and six thematic forums, with more than 1,500 port and shipping industry experts and representatives from 44 countries and regions participating in the event.
