President DAI Jiqun Leads Delegation to 2026 Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum
From May 26 to 28, 2026, the 10th Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. NHRI co-organized the “Closed-door Seminar on Port Construction and Operation & Maintenance Technologies” and the “Thematic Forum on Port Engineering and Technology”. President DAI Jiqun, Vice President PAN Junning, and Academician Hu Ya’an, Chairman of NHRI Science and Technology Association, attended the opening ceremony and several major events.
NHRI, together with Zhejiang Seaport Ocean Engineering Construction Co., Ltd., co-organized the “Closed-door Seminar on Port Construction and Operation & Maintenance Technologies”. Under the theme “Leading with Innovation, Forging a Deep Blue Foundation”, the Seminar brought together experts and representatives from port construction, engineering design, and research institutions to discuss key technical challenges in the construction, and operation and maintenance of deep water ports on offshore island groups. President DAI delivered a special report titled Strengthening Basic Research and Innovating Collaborative Problem Solving Models to Provide Technical Support for Whole Lifecycle Smart Management of Offshore Island Wharf Structural Safety. He shared concepts and the latest research findings on the structural resilience and whole lifecycle management of port and wharf facilities, and proposed strategic cooperation plans to jointly build national level innovation platforms, co create industry standards, co develop world class demonstration projects, and co design talent cultivation systems, aiming to promote major scientific and technological innovations in port and waterway engineering through deep industry university research integration.
Closed door Seminar on Port Construction and Operation & Maintenance Technologies
The “Thematic Forum on Port Engineering and Technology”, one of the seven thematic forums of the 10th Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum, was co organized by NHRI and Zhejiang Seaport and Marine Engineering Construction Co., Ltd. Academician Hu Ya’an delivered a keynote speech titled Demands and Technological Challenges of Inland Waterway Construction. From a holistic perspective of the water transport industry, he systematically analyzed the current opportunities and challenges faced by port engineering construction, elaborated on the development direction of key core technologies for port and waterway infrastructure in the context of smart, green, and resilient development, and proposed suggestions for enhancing port engineering technological innovation and building a modern port and waterway system. The Forum attracted nearly 300 experts and industry representatives from port, shipping, engineering design and construction, and research institutions both at home and abroad to discuss technological innovations and future trends in port engineering.
Academician Hu Ya’an delivering keynote speech
During the Forum, NHRI was also deeply involved in the release of outcomes including the 2026 Ningbo Initiative on Port Construction, Operation and Maintenance, engaged in in depth exchanges with industry competent authorities, port and shipping enterprises, universities, and research institutes on topics such as resilient ports, smart operation and maintenance, and green and low carbon development, further reaching consensus on deepening scientific and technological cooperation and collaborative innovation.
Release of the 2026 Ningbo Initiative on Port Construction, Operation and Maintenance
The Maritime Silk Road Port Cooperation Forum was established in 2015. It is an internationally influential platform for port and shipping cooperation and exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative. With the purpose of promoting openness and cooperation, connectivity, and sustainable development of the global port and shipping industry, the Forum has cumulatively attracted more than 10,000 participants from over 120 countries and regions. It has evolved into an international platform integrating high level dialogues, outcome releases, project cooperation, and technical exchanges. Many outcomes have been included in the outcome lists of the “Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation”. After ten years of development, the Forum has become a major brand event for deepening cooperation, building consensus, and pursuing shared development in the global port and shipping industry.
