GUO Dacheng, Chairman of China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry

Harbin, August 23, 2024

Distinguished Leaders,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

I am honored to participate in this year’s conference of the Association held in Harbin. On behalf of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry and in my personal capacity, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the convening of this conference! I also extend a sincere welcome to representatives from member organizations of the Association, as well as leaders and representatives from relevant international organizations!

Currently, the world is experiencing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, with technological innovation entering an unprecedented period of intense activity. In the shipbuilding industry, which is centered around ships, ocean engineering, and supporting equipment, innovative technologies such as low-carbon energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, and digital intelligence are continuously emerging, driving the iterative upgrading of equipment products and the transformation of industrial and supply chains. At the same time, as the technological revolution becomes increasingly intertwined with the development of the shipbuilding industry, technological innovation has become the theme of cooperation in the global shipbuilding industry, and it is accelerating the reshaping of the world’s shipbuilding industry order and development pattern.

It is in this context that the International Association of Innovation and Cooperation on Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering emerges. Since its inception in 2015, the Association has followed the development trend of the international maritime industry, aiming to promote innovation and cooperation between universities and the industry. It focuses on the modern trends of digitization, networking, intelligence, automation, and greening engineering equipment, and has carried out in-depth international cooperation in high-level scientific research, talent cultivation, achievement transformation, brand building, and resource sharing, promoting the common development of its member organizations through innovation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China is a major maritime and shipbuilding country in the world. China’s shipbuilding industry has a complete range of categories, providing rich testing and application scenarios for new concepts, techniques, products, and technologies in the international industry. It has played a significant role in supporting the stability of the global shipbuilding industry’s industrial chain and supply chain. Over the past decade, China’s shipbuilding industry has accounted for more than 50% of the world’s total annual order volume, completion volume, and handling orders. In the first half of this year, the number of orders was close to 75% of the global total. At the same time, the Chinese shipbuilding industry has made positive progress in the design, research and development, and application of environmentally friendly ship types, new energy power systems, and energy-saving equipment for ships. Next, China’s shipbuilding industry will continue to focus on the two major directions of green and intelligent technologies, innovate in the product system, manufacturing system, and supply chain system of ships, and support regional collaboration and international cooperation.

China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry is a national-level association representing China’s shipbuilding industry, with nearly 400 member organizations, covering the vast majority of China’s shipbuilding enterprises, universities, and research institutes, and serves as a link for exchange and cooperation in the field of shipbuilding between China and the rest of the world. As one of the guiding organizations of this year’s conference, we have invited scientists, educators, and entrepreneurs from related universities, enterprises, and research institutes at home and abroad to participate. We are willing to build a service bridge for all attendees to turn everyone’s insights into a strong force to promote the sustainable development of the world’s shipbuilding and ocean engineering.

Finally, I wish this year’s conference a complete success. Thank you!