On June 6, the naming and unveiling ceremony for the London Representative Office of the China Shipowners' Association (CSA) took place in London, the U.K.

Minister Wang Qi of the Chinese Embassy in the U.K., Mr. Zhang Yong, Executive Vice President of COSCO SHIPPING, Mr. Liu Shanghai, Executive Vice President of CSA, and other guests jointly unveiled the plaque for the CSA London Representative Office.  

Mr. Guy Platten, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), stated in his speech that London is a core hub for global shipping governance, and the establishment of the CSA London representative office demonstrates CSA's commitment to deepening international cooperation and participating in global shipping affairs. He expressed hopes that the CSA London office will strengthen multi-faceted exchanges and in-depth collaboration with international organizations such as ICS and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Mr. Wang Qi, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the U.K., emphasized that shipping is a vital carrier for economic globalization and a crucial pillar of the world economy. He expects the office to provide more services and support for Chinese shipping enterprises in the U.K. and serve as a larger platform for dialogue and exchanges between the two nations in the shipping sector.

Mr. Zhang Yong, Executive Vice President of COSCO SHIPPING, noted that London is a global hub of shipping intelligence, and the CSA's decision to establish a representative office here is a strategic move for China's shipping industry to proactively embrace the future of global shipping development.  

COSCO SHIPPING is actively advancing its strategic focus on two tracks  featuring green and low-carbon operations as well as digital intelligence empowerment, achieving significant progress in key areas such as green shipping technology, alternative fuels, smart port operations, and digital transformation. Representing the president of units for China Shipowners’ Association (CSA), Mr. Zhang outlined three pivotal roles for the CSA’s London Representative Office: to serve as an “international communication bridge” for shipping affairs, to establish a “cooperation platform,” and to function as a “service window.” He stated that the three roles aim to strengthen connections and collaboration within the shipping sector between China and international partners. Emphasizing COSCO SHIPPING’s collaborative spirit, Mr. Zhang highlighted the company’s commitment to work with stakeholders worldwide in guiding green standards and regulations (Regulation), jointly innovating green technologies (Innovation), establishing green energy supply chains (Supply Chain), empowering artificial intelligence and digitalization (Intelligence), providing financial support for green transformation (New Finance), and fostering cooperation in green transformation governance (Governance). These collaborative efforts (RISING) are intended to elevate the overall level of cooperation within the green shipping industry.

Mr. Zhang further urged international shipping organizations to support greater participation from developing nations and their enterprises in shaping and revising international conventions and industry standards. He advocated for continuously enhancing the fairness, impartiality, and inclusivity of global shipping’s decision-making process, particularly concerning economic and trade rules. Mr. Zhang also called for active collaboration with relevant international bodies, enabling them to take leading roles in developing new standards within areas critical to the shipping sector. He emphasized the need to back the industry’s efforts in collaborating with upstream and downstream partners to pilot “decarbonized shipping corridors,” expand the market for carbon dioxide utilization, and advance permanent storage technologies. Additionally, he encouraged leading shipping companies to spearhead the development of digital infrastructure with internationally advanced levels. Strengthening ties with financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, was highlighted as crucial for promoting ESG-aligned shipping finance. Finally, Mr. Zhang proposed establishing a more inclusive global governance framework for shipping emission reduction, fostering coordinated innovation across business models, technology, finance, and institutional structures to make the industry’s green transition more economically viable and beneficial to all.

Mr. Liu Shanghai, Executive Vice President of CSA, stated that green and low-carbon development is the only path for the global shipping industry to achieve sustainability, and only through international cooperation and resource integration can the sector break through transformation bottlenecks. CSA will use its London office as a link to work with the international community to contribute wisdom and strength to the prosperity and sustainable development of global shipping.  

A green shipping seminar was also held during the ceremony. Mr. Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary-General of ICS, and Mr. Gary Crawford from Crystal Logistics (UK) Ltd. delivered professional reports on green shipping and shipowner services, sharing cutting-edge practices and solutions.