Enhancement of Cooperation among Port Associations
Promotion of Regional Economic Development
Opening speech by Mr. Lu Haihu,
Director-General of China Ports & Harbours Association
at 4th President's Meeting of Port & Harbour Associations in Northeast Asia
Respected President Kiyoyasu Mikanagi, Japan Port & Harbor Association,
Respected President Hwang Ho-Young, Korea Port & Harbor Association,
Today, we get together here in beautiful costal city of Yantai to have a discussion again on regional port business development and cooperation among port associations. First of all, on behalf of China Ports & Harbours Association and all our members, I'd like to extend my warm congratulation on the opening of the meeting. Also I express herewith my sincere welcome to all guests attending this event.
The target of President's Meeting of Port & Harbor Associations in Northeast Asia is to exchange ideals and comments on the port development and management in order to better mutual understanding and friendship among the members of our three port associations, and to cultivate a common prosperous port group in Northeast Asia on the basis of competition and cooperation. We have so far had three successful meetings with beneficially unforgettable. I do hope this meeting will give you same happy impression.
Dear delegates,
China Ports & Harbours Association has always highlighted both exchanges and cooperation on port business in Northeast Asia, and willingly to further such exchanges and cooperation with Japan and Korea port associations. We consider at all times to pursue cultivation of a cooperation climate on the basis of an overall situation of port business development in Northeast Asia with mutual understanding, harmonious existence, friendship and cooperation. We pursue the development of marine transport corridor in Northeast Asia and extensive bilateral cooperation on the principles of equal consultation and mutual benefit to consolidate regional collaboration. We should persist in the guideline of diversity and progress to continuously explore new patterns of cooperation and effective patterns. At present, Asia faces both opportunities and challenges in port development under impulsion of economic globalization, trend of ever bigger vessels and modern logistics. This implies that on one hand Asia possesses an enormous potentiality in development and has already become centre for container transport in the world with vital position taken by key ports in Asia amongst all ports in the world, at other hand, we have seen an ever-growing risks and challenges in regional port development due to uncertainty of global economic environment. Therefore ports in Asia should clearly understand current situation and historical responsibilities that ports should take in Asia. We should make common efforts to build up a regional cooperative port platform with Asian characters and opening to outside world in order to extensively promote market exploration and source utilization in the region. This is the base of fundamental benefits for all members of our three port associations. Ports in China will extensively and deeply involve in global cooperation and competition.
(November 07,2005)
