Introduction

On Apr.4,2009, “State Council on Promoting Shanghai to Speed up the Development of Modern Service Industry and Advanced Manufacturing to Build an International Financial and Shipping Center opinion” was officially released by the State Council.(G.F.[19])

Since G.F. [19] was released, Shanghai international shipping center construction has stepped into rapid development stage with big promotion of port service capacity, primary formation of shipping elements system framework, markedly strengthening of port service function and gradually improvement of shipping development environment.

However, how was the progress of Shanghai international shipping center construction? What kind of standard should Shanghai international shipping center achieve to turn into globally recognized international shipping center? Where is the breakthrough point of Shanghai international shipping center construction?

Dilemma of Shanghai shipping is actually of national shipping. How can we get out of the dilemma on earth? How can we search for the real coordinates of China shipping under global condition?

In 2010, on the occasion of temporary ending of global financial crisis and realizing big reversal of shipping industry, the first Shanghai Shipping Exchange Forum painstakingly nurtured by Shanghai Shipping Exchange started with wild excitement.

Having abandoned the unrealistic style, Shanghai Shipping Exchange Forum presents the key areas and links which need a breakthrough in China shipping construction for people in the actual spirit of inquiry and exploration, and aggregates wisdom and consensus to seek the breakthrough and development in consideration of prospective risks. The theme put forward by the Forum such as “index·derivatives·hedging” and “Shipping Exchange Professional Era” is to further strike the weakness of China shipping development to break the thinking barrier, grasp new opportunities and discover new growth point.

The idea of actively exploration has attracted numerous well-known entrepreneurs and experts in the industry to participate in the forum. Of the forum held in the previous two sessions, Deputy Director of the State Development and Reform Commission Policy Research Office Shi Zihai, Executive Deputy Director of State Information Center Wang Changsheng, Vice-president of Singapore Exchange Wang Cheng, Chairman of Shanghai Clearing House Xu Zhen, Chairman of CSCL Li Shaode, Party Secretary of Shanghai Maritime University Yu Shicheng, Vice-president of Construction Bank-Shanghai Branch, Lin Shunhui, all delivered the speech. Richard A. Lidinsky Jr., chairman of United States Federal Maritime Commission, has been invited to participate in the 2012 forum to present the role of maritime supervision played in global shipping market for Chinese peers. These global heavyweights are to exchange views to discuss the development of industry by virtue of the forum, of which deep and insightful views would provide valuable understanding for present audience and clarify the course of development for practitioners.

In the fourth year of global financial crisis, with recession of shipping and its related industries—shipping market shrinking, capital chain choppy, prospect unknown, traditional technology out of date and new technology not fully coming out, the third Shanghai Shipping Exchange Forum launched on Nov.28 will probe into the present dilemma and find the proper solution.

Communication is always the best way for human being’s progress. So let’s grasp this precious opportunity and work together to create economic miracles.