On 23 June 2023, the Chinese Embassy in the UK hosted a reception at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). H.E. Ambassador Zheng Zeguang attended the reception and delivered a speech, introducing China’s significant contributions to the international shipping industry and maritime governance. Around 150 guests, including permanent representatives of IMO member states and representatives from diplomatic missions in the UK, joined the event.

Ambassador Zheng noted that this year marks the 50th  anniversary of China's restoration of the IMO membership. Over the past 50 years, China has participated in the work of IMO in a comprehensive manner, and earnestly fulfiled its convention obligations. China has been elected as a Category A Member of the IMO Council for 17 consecutive times and has joined almost all the conventions and regulations within the IMO framework. On top of that, China has actively donated to developing member countries of IMO for their efforts to enhance maritime capabilities, and has continuously strengthened technical exchanges and cooperation with IMO, contributing positively to the international shipping industry and maritime governance.

Ambassador Zheng pointed out that China has made significant achievements in building a modern shipping system that is safe, accessible, efficient, economical and green. In 2022, the cargo throughput of Chinese ports exceeded 15 billion tons, and the total volume of containers handled at Chinese ports reached 296 million TEUs, ranking the first in the world; China’s ocean-going fleet had a scale of nearly 270 million DWT, ranking the second in the world; the newly received order volume of Chinese shipyards topped the world; and China's international shipping routes linked more than 100 countries and regions, making important contributions to the development of the international shipping industry and global economic growth.

Ambassador Zheng noted that President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, calling on the international community to boost global development partnership, accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and pursue a more robust, greener and more balanced global development. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with countries around the world to implement the Global Development Initiative. In the process of Chinese modernisation, China will follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, participate in global maritime governance more deeply, and step up effort to build a blue partnership of win-win cooperation together with other member states. China will continue to take an active part in the work of IMO and contribute more to the development of the international shipping industry.