Silk Road Maritime Forum in Xiamen: Boosting Global Trade and Shipping

The 6th Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum commenced on September 8, 2024, in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province, attracting over 600 participants from various sectors including shipping, trade, finance, and technology. The forum's theme, 'Integrating Ports, Shipping and Trading Services,' aims to enhance collaboration across the industrial and value chains, providing effective solutions for the international transport industry. The Silk Road Maritime Association (SRMA), the event's organizer, introduced the 2024 Silk Road Maritime Blue Book and launched the Silk Road Maritime Ports, Shipping, and Trade Service Integration Initiative, which seeks to standardize services and promote global trade. During the forum, SRMA unveiled 10 new sea shipment routes and signed 12 cooperation agreements with 13 enterprises, while also welcoming 13 new members into the association. Established six years ago as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, SRMA has developed a network of 132 named sea shipment routes connecting 145 ports across 46 countries and regions, now comprising over 340 members. The forum aligns with China's broader strategy announced during the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, which included eight action plans focused on high-quality cooperation. This strategy emphasizes the integration of ports, shipping, and trading services, aiming to accelerate the development of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road. Looking forward, SRMA is committed to fostering innovation in integrated port, ocean shipping, and trade development, exploring sustainable cooperation mechanisms to enhance global integration in these sectors.