The 2026 North Bund Forum opened in Shanghai on Oct 20, focusing on global shipping governance and the resilient development of the shipping and aviation sectors.

Under the theme "Common Challenge, Shared Mission: Promoting the Resilient Development of Global Shipping and Aviation", the two-day forum is jointly hosted by the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government.

The event features an opening ceremony, two main forums on international shipping and aviation, and five thematic forums covering maritime safety, finance and insurance, digital intelligence, green and low-carbon development, and judicial and arbitration matters.

More than 60 activities are scheduled as part of the forum and its concurrent events, including Shanghai Pudong International Shipping Week, running from Oct 19 to 24, and the Global Maritime Forum Annual Summit, taking place on Oct 21 and 22, marking the first time the summit is held on the Chinese mainland.

In-person attendance at the forum is expected to reach about 4,000, while overall attendance across the forum and concurrent events is projected to exceed 15,000, with participants from more than 50 countries and regions.

Shanghai advances as an international shipping center

In 2025, Shanghai Port handled more than 55.06 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), retaining its position as the world's busiest container port for the 16th consecutive year. The city rose to second place globally in the 2026 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index, marking its highest-ever ranking since the index was introduced in 2014.

Over the past year, Shanghai has strengthened its high-end maritime services. The city's green shipping insurance initiative has broadened its coverage from hull insurance to the entire shipping value chain. Shanghai has also advanced maritime legal services, including the country's first case that combines maritime mediation with judicial confirmation.

Digital transformation has accelerated. Shanghai Port has expanded electronic cargo release services to include pulp and roll-on/roll-off vehicle shipments, while a new smart cargo terminal at Pudong International Airport has increased annual cargo handling capacity by 600,000 metric tons.

In green shipping, Shanghai has launched a domestically developed international certification system for green marine fuels. Green methanol bunkering capabilities now extend across the main operating waters of Shanghai Port, supported by an integrated local supply chain spanning production, storage, and bunkering.

Shanghai has also strengthened its aviation connections. Pudong airport retained its top ranking for air connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region, while the Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires route, launched in December 2025, improved air links between Shanghai and South America.

Source: General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government