The Shanghai delegation to the third session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, recently held a group meeting focused on enhancing Shanghai's international shipping capabilities.

Data show that the container throughput of Shanghai Port reached a record 51.506 million twenty-foot equivalent units in 2024 — the highest in the world for the 15th year straight.

Now at a pivotal stage, Shanghai's construction of an international shipping center is transitioning from basic completion to comprehensive enhancement.

To support this development, the Shanghai delegation proposed upgrading port capacity, strengthening high-end shipping services, and accelerating the integrated development of the city's "five centers" – an international economic center, financial center, trade center, shipping center, and science and technology innovation center.

Enhancing port capacity

The current utilization rate of Shanghai Port's container terminals exceeds 80 percent, well above the internationally accepted range of 50 to 70 percent.

Ni Di, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a captain with the Shanghai Branch of COSCO Shipping Seafarer Management Co, highlighted capacity constraints at deep-water port terminals.

At Yangshan Port, 150,000-ton ships can currently dock without waiting for the tide. However, with more larger vessels expected in the future, mandatory tidal waits could impact port efficiency.

Ni called for Shanghai Port to accelerate infrastructure development and improve resource allocation to better serve the Yangtze River Delta region.

Improving high-end shipping services

Hang Yingwei, a deputy to the National People's Congress and Party secretary and chairman of Shanghai Construction Group, emphasized the need for policy coordination and the optimized allocation of capital, technology, data, and talent in advancing the "five centers".

Hang highlighted the importance of promoting high-end service industries in the intersecting areas of the "five centers" to maximize synergy and improve overall efficiency.

To enhance the international shipping center, he suggested that Shanghai should strengthen resource allocation in sectors such as marine insurance, maritime services, and shipping arbitration, while also boosting the supply and influence of high-end shipping services.

Source: Wenhui Daily