The newly revised Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on Promoting the Building of Shanghai as an International Shipping Center will take effect on Feb 1, 2025. It is revised on the basis of the 2016 version.

These regulations underscore Shanghai's commitment to becoming a beacon of excellence in the international maritime landscape.

With six chapters and forty articles, the regulations mainly include the following contents:

1. Clarify the general target and enhance development capabilities

The regulations outline a vision for the next phase of the development of Shanghai as an international shipping center — Shanghai will thoroughly implement national strategies, collaboratively construct a shipping hub with global influence, elevate high-end shipping services, advance smart and green shipping cooperation and development, foster a world-class environment for shipping development and become a premier international shipping center.

To upgrade the capacities and the level of Shanghai as an international shipping center, the regulations contain stipulations on establishing a mechanism for coordinating related work, planning for shipping progress and safety, conducting higher-level institutional opening-up, strengthening domestic and international cooperation and amplifying the global influence of shipping culture.

2. Coordinate planning with formulation and ensure construction

To support and ensure the high-quality development of Shanghai as an international shipping center, the regulations are designed to promote the city’s capacities as such a center from planning and construction.

The regulations put forth the requirements for formulating the program and related special plans for the development of the city as an international shipping center, and coordinate and ensure resources like land and water for such development.

They also clarify the building of Shanghai into a world-class port and an all-round international aviation hub with enhanced functions.

According to the regulations, the city will boost the construction of an efficient, green and smooth transport system conducive to collection and distribution of goods, spur the development of multimodal transport and improve comprehensive transport efficiency.

3. Tackle service shortcomings and strengthen systematic building

The regulations focus on consolidating the foundation, remedying shortcomings and gathering factors to bolster the building of Shanghai’s shipping service system and enhance its "soft power" for the global allocation of shipping resources.

In terms of basic shipping and aviation services, specific requirements are made for establishing a fleet with an international competitive edge, improving convenience for coastal shipping, building a world-class cruise operations center, facilitating registration of international ships at the Yangshan Port and fostering super contractors for air transport.

Regarding high-end shipping services, requirements are clarified for supporting trading concerning shipping rates, data, carbon emission rights and green fuels, enhancing the professionalization and convenience of shipping-oriented financial services, promoting the coordinated development of shipping insurance and reinsurance and providing high-quality legal services.

As for the aggregation of shipping factors, the regulations support the establishment of international shipping organizations with Shanghai as the headquarters and major global shipping companies and institutions as participants and encourage shipping-related enterprises, institutions and organizations to settle in the city.

4. Boost sci-tech innovation and promote digital, intelligent and green development

In accordance with the regulations, to seize the initiative in its shipping development, Shanghai will support basic research, technological breakthroughs and commercialization of research achievements in the shipping field, as well as promote its digital, intelligent and green transformation and upgrading.

The city will boost the digital development of shipping, advance the application of modern information technology in the shipping field and further facilitate trade in shipping.

It will promote the intelligent development of shipping, enhance the informationization and intelligence level of shipping infrastructure and build smart ports, lanes and airports.

Shanghai will also drive the green development of shipping, advance the exemplary application of new energy and green fuels, boost construction of supporting infrastructure in the shipping field and improve the monitoring and management system for carbon emissions arising from shipping.

5. Optimize business environment and guarantee smooth shipping

To foster a world-class shipping environment, Shanghai will comply with the regulations to implement a management system for a negative list for foreign investment access and market access according to the law.

The city will streamline measures for port supervision, establish comprehensive service windows at entry ports and provide multilingual, one-stop services.

It will strengthen the building of the talent team in the shipping field and promote the cultivation of comprehensive shipping talents.

It will also establish a mechanism for risk prevention and set up a safety regulatory system that fits its high-level opening-up.

Source: Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress

Note: The English version of the regulations is for reference only; the official Chinese document shall prevail.