The 32nd Annual Meeting of the Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA) was held in Pudong, Shanghai from May 1 to May 17.

With the theme of "Asia, greener and safer shipping", the meeting was hosted by the China Shipowners' Association and gathered six member associations from the Asia-Pacific region, which collectively control and operate over 60 percent of the global shipping fleet.

This was the fourth time that the ASA held its annual meeting in China, returning after a seven-year hiatus. It was also the first time it was held in Pudong, Shanghai, which is a key gateway for China to reach the Pacific and the world. Boasting a coastline of 115 kilometers and a throughput of 42 million standardized containers, Pudong has supported Shanghai Port's 13-year-long status as the world's top container port by volume.

More than 10,000 shipping-related enterprises are based in Pudong, including numerous ASA member companies.

During the meeting, Zhang Shouguo, executive vice-president of the China Shipowners' Association, announced the ASA 2023 Initiative, calling on all stakeholders in the shipping industry to take joint actions to promote the healthy development of Asia's shipping industry.

Zhang noted that only concerted efforts could effectively address future challenges so that the ASA could continue to play a crucial role in ensuring international trade flows.

"We propose the initiative to encourage industry peers to discuss and communicate on a common platform and avoid unilateral actions as much as possible," Zhang added.

Currently, Shanghai is accelerating the construction of an efficient sea-land-air-rail-water integrated transportation system in Pudong. Major conferences like the ASA annual meeting provide a platform for industry leaders to jointly explore shipping development trends and work together to make Asia a driver for global shipping.

The 32nd Annual Meeting of the Asian Shipowners' Association opens in Pudong, Shanghai from May 1 to May 17. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_01c6f7b4cf3d]