On the afternoon of July 12, the 2025 China Maritime Day Forum and the closing ceremony of the main event were held in Boao, Qionghai City, Hainan Province. It was announced at the event that the 2026 China Maritime Day main event will take place in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province. He Jianzhong, Chairman of the China Institute of Navigation; Gu Gang, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Governor of the Hainan Provincial People’s Government; and Li Zhongjun, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Governor of the Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, attended the closing ceremony and symbolically passed the China Maritime Day flag to mark the handover.
According to Li Shixin, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Institute of Navigation, this year’s main event centered on the theme “Green Shipping, Forging Ahead with Innovation,” featuring over 20 forums, seminars, and exchange activities. More than 130 authoritative experts, regulatory representatives, and industry leaders focused on green shipping, new-energy vessels, and low- (or zero-) carbon emissions from ships, actively exploring innovative development pathways. The event facilitated the exchange of maritime technologies, knowledge, and achievements, fostering public awareness and enthusiasm for maritime culture while inspiring a deeper interest in ocean conservation and maritime activities. The event was distinguished by its clear theme, authoritative and international perspective, broad public and frontline engagement, and efficient, pragmatic organization.
Yang Huaxiong, Director of the Water Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Transport and Director of the China Maritime Day Organizing Committee Office, emphasized in his speech that to advance marine technology innovation, develop marine industries, and promote high-quality growth in the shipping sector, it is essential to forge a distinctive Chinese path toward maritime strength. He called for accelerating industrial transformation, cultivating new productive forces in shipping, and upholding win-win cooperation to achieve sustainable, high-quality development.
Zhang Yong, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy General Manager of China COSCO Shipping Corporation, stated that the group will continue leveraging the China Maritime Day platform to drive industry innovation and green development, promote maritime science and cultural heritage, uphold the spirit of modern maritime endeavors, and fulfill its social responsibilities as the world’s largest comprehensive shipping enterprise. He expressed hope that the event would inspire collective efforts toward building a “vibrant maritime future” characterized by ecological sustainability, smart technology, connectivity, openness, and cultural richness, contributing to a global maritime community with a shared future.
Chen Ming, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Qionghai City, noted that this year’s Maritime Day activities, through high-level forums and public engagement, showcased the dynamic progress of China’s maritime sector while injecting unprecedented “blue momentum” into the Hainan Free Trade Port and Qionghai. He pledged to use the event as a springboard for tapping into marine resources and fostering new growth points, striving to write an even more remarkable chapter for Qionghai.
The closing ceremony was presided over by Sun Yuqing, Vice Chairman of the China Institute of Navigation. Attendees watched a video highlighting diverse Maritime Day activities across the country and celebratory moments shared by seafarers and water transport workers.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of China Maritime Day, established by the State Council. Over the past two decades, the event has aligned with evolving themes and industry transformations, attracting tens of millions of participants worldwide. It has played a pivotal role in preserving maritime heritage, promoting modern maritime values, raising public awareness, and supporting China’s ambitions to become a maritime and shipping powerhouse. Today, it stands as a vital platform for industry collaboration, visionary leadership, and global engagement.
