On 28 November 2023, H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang and Vice Minister of Transport of China Mr Fu Xuyin, who led a delegation to the 33rd Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), jointly hosted a reception at the Chinese Embassy in the UK to present China's achievements in the maritime industry and the outcomes of its participation in international maritime governance cooperation. More than 300 guests including Mr Kitack Lim, the outgoing IMO Secretary-General, Mr Arsenio Dominguez Velasco, the next IMOSecretary-General, heads of delegations and delegates from various countries to the IMO Assembly,members of the diplomaticcorps in the UK, and representatives from various sectors attended the reception.

Ambassador Zheng noted that the continuous growth of China's shipping industry has provided a strong boost to the sustained and rapid development of China’s economy and global connectivity. China has earnestly fulfiled its responsibilities and obligations as a member State of the IMO, actively supported activities of the Organization, and played a constructive role in promoting the green transformation of the global shipping industry and ensuring safe and smooth global supply chains. At the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi Jinping announced that vigorous efforts will be made to integrate ports, shipping and trading services under the“Silk Road Maritime”and accelerate the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road, which will surely create new opportunities for and inject new impetus into the development of the international maritime industry and global connectivity. China will work with all other countries to build a maritime community with a shared future.

(Xinhua/Li Ying)

Vice Minister Fu noted in his remarks that the Chinese government will continue to support the work of the IMO and actively participate in international shipping cooperation. Mr Kitack Lim and Mr Arsenio Dominguez Velasco and participants applauded China's achievements in maritime capacity building and its important contributions to international shipping cooperation.