Geopolitical tensions are reshaping global trade and the international shipping industry, making the creation of safe, green, and resilient maritime routes a pressing concern for all stakeholders. At the 8th "Silk Road Maritime" International Cooperation Forum, held on September 8 in Xiamen, Fujian Province, domestic and international delegates agreed that in the face of challenges like geopolitical risk and the green transition, the shipping sector must bolster connectivity and open cooperation while actively embracing the valuable stability and development opportunities that the Chinese market offers to the world.

During her speech at the forum, Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson-Smith, underscored the critical importance of safe and uninterrupted maritime trade. She noted that Jamaica's economy depends heavily on shipping, which is why collective action is needed to tackle shared challenges and build resilient economic and trade partnerships. She specifically highlighted China's pivotal role, stating, "China continually strengthens the resilience of international supply chains and promotes global cooperation. Through robust multilateral trade and cooperation grounded in 'Silk Road Maritime,' we can jointly build a more efficient, safe, sustainable, and resilient future of shared prosperity."

Ambassador Isokpunwu, Permanent Secretary of Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, remarked that the forum's theme—"New Silk Road Journey, Harmony and Mutual Growth: Building a New Pattern of High-Level Open Cooperation in Port, Shipping, and Trade"—closely aligns with Nigeria's current economic development direction. He elaborated that for Nigeria, "Silk Road Maritime" represents more than the movement of ships and cargo; it is fundamentally about strengthening connections to the global economy, attracting greater investment, and forging a sustainable development path that enhances the welfare of its people. He also expressed Nigeria's aspiration to leverage this cooperation to upgrade local technical skills and learn from China's "remarkable development" experience.

In an interview, Jan Vandermeersch, Chief Port Representative for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Economic Diplomacy Advisor to the Belgian Embassy in China, explained that Antwerp is a core comprehensive hub port in Europe. Cooperation between his port and Chinese ports can stimulate two-way capital investment and deepen economic and trade exchanges. "Around 60% of Europe's automotive imports and exports move through our port, and new energy vehicles are a top priority in Europe-China cooperation," he noted. Vandermeersch added that China's economic growth is not just about higher cargo volumes; it reflects a transformation in industrial value. He believes China’s artificial intelligence (AI), smart driving technologies, and products will expand into the European market, prompting European ports to undergo digital transformation to better facilitate trade between Europe and China.

Given the growing importance of international shipping safety and efficiency, Arctic shipping is drawing increasing attention as the third maritime route between China and Europe and a shortcut for trade. This route offers significant advantages, including faster transit times, lower emissions, and considerable cost savings on transport. In August of this year, Chinese shipping company Hai Jie Shipping launched the first regular container liner service navigating the Arctic route. Analysts suggest this signals the emergence of a new major international trade corridor.

Navigating the Arctic route safely depends heavily on professional meteorological navigation support. At this forum, the official launch of the "Silk Road Maritime" Arctic Route Meteorological Navigation Service was announced. Developed jointly by the China Meteorological Administration and the "Silk Road Maritime" Alliance, the service utilizes Fengyun meteorological satellites to build an Arctic sea ice observation network. By integrating numerical forecasting with AI algorithms, it provides daily sea ice forecasts for the next 15 days and dynamic polar cyclone monitoring, effectively addressing the challenges of insufficient polar observation coverage and data lag. This provides essential support for vessels to avoid ice conditions, plan safe routes, and ensures navigational safety in polar regions. Previously, Hai Jie Shipping signed a service agreement with "Silk Road Maritime" for this Arctic meteorological navigation service.

Chen Zhiping, Chairman of Fujian Port Group, told reporters that his group recently collaborated with the Xiamen Meteorological Bureau to develop a "Silk Road Maritime" Port Meteorological Risk Intelligent Agent. This system aggregates meteorological risk information for 58 ports both domestically and internationally, incorporating key data like risk levels, distance from typhoon centers, and port closure or reopening status. "This is a world first. It enables ports, shipping companies, traders, and insurers across the upstream and downstream chain to quickly grasp the situation across multiple ports, significantly reducing the cost of coordinated decision-making. We will continue refining this intelligent agent and connect more 'Belt and Road' ports," Chen stated. He added that the next step involves deep integration of the agent with global meteorological navigation services—with the agent managing port operations and navigation services overseeing maritime travel—to achieve seamless coverage from sea to land and ensure "Silk Road Maritime + Meteorology" better supports the integrated development of ports, shipping, and trade.

The forum also announced the launch of 12 new "Silk Road Maritime" routes, the accreditation of 15 new alliance members, and the on-site signing of 11 cooperation projects. Poland's Port of Gdańsk received its first "Silk Road Maritime" route, also the first such route for Central Europe. Zhang Bijun, Chief Representative of the Port of Gdańsk Authority's Shanghai Office, told reporters that since joining the alliance in 2020, cooperation with Chinese partners has continuously deepened. "The Port of Gdańsk is the largest container deep-water terminal in the Baltic Sea and the final stop for container trunk routes from China to Europe. Poland also handles about 80% of goods entering the EU via China-Europe Railway Express. This unique geographical position allows us to fully leverage the confluence of the Maritime Silk Road and the Land Silk Road," Zhang explained.

Established in 2018, "Silk Road Maritime" is China's first "Belt and Road" international integrated logistics service brand and platform focused on shipping. It stands alongside the China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor as a key logistics channel for China's high-quality "Belt and Road" cooperation. Attendees believe that since its launch in 2018, the initiative has continuously enhanced its service capabilities and international influence. Against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical rivalry, rising trade protectionism, and the regionalization and fragmentation of global industrial and supply chains, "Silk Road Maritime" has become a vital force for smoothing the domestic and international economic cycle and stabilizing the global economic and trade landscape.

Nearly eight years since its inception, this "golden waterway" originating from Fujian continues to expand its reach. To date, "Silk Road Maritime" routes total 160, connecting to 153 ports across 50 countries and regions worldwide. Its alliance membership has grown to 393 entities, spanning diverse fields such as shipping, energy, manufacturing, and the internet.