Honorable Madam Burr, Assistant Deputy Minister of Transport Canada,
Mr. Rysanek, President of the APSN Council,
APSN Members,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to attend the Extraordinary meeting of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) Council in this port city of Vancouver. Time flies, it has been four years since last time I attended the Second Joint Ministerial Conference of the Paris and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control in Vancouver, where I was deeply impressed by the busy operation of Vancouver port and the efficient work and considerate arrangements by Transport Canada.
Today I am very pleased to have the opportunity to revisit this beautiful city of Vancouver, and thankful for the great hospitality extended by Transport Canada. What delights me most is the opportunity to meet and discuss with you on the development of port industry in the Asia-Pacific region.
Following the entry into the new century, the Asia-Pacific region has experienced the fastest economic growth driven by the globalization. Thanks to the rapid economic and trade development across the Pacific, the port industry in the region has been maintaining a sound momentum of development over the years. Among the world top 10 container ports, 7 are located in the region. The timely establishment of the APEC Port Services Network served the new demands arising from the fast growth of Asia-Pacific port industry. With a mandate to promote cooperation and common prosperity of the APEC ports through information exchange and capacity building, the APSN will play a constructive role in ensuring a sound and sustainable development of port and shipping industries in the region.
However, good times are always shorter than we expected. Heavily hit by a global financial crisis, the shipping industry in the region suffers from a sudden downturn by the economic slowdown and drop in shipping capacity demand. Baltic Dry Index--the global barometer for shipping costs-also plummeted over the past few months. As the closest partner to shipping industry, the port industry in the region has to face many severe challenges brought by the gloomy shipping industry. From the beginning of 2009, the major ports in the region have seen negative growth in their throughput. In this difficult time, it is important for everyone of our port industry to respond actively, rebuild our confidence and make joint efforts for common development instead of waiting idly and playing protectionism.
As a primary platform for communication and cooperation among the port and related industries, the APSN has a wide participation of membership, ranging from senior officials from port competent authorities to industry representatives and experts from port, shipping and logistics industries. I am deeply convinced that with your concerted efforts, the port industry in the Asia-Pacific region will soon resume its rapid development.
Let me take this opportunity to share with you some thoughts on how I think the port industry in the region maintains the development against the financial crisis.
Firstly, port authorities in the region should make collective efforts to create a favorable and open environment for the development of the port industry. Port authorities of member economies are making every effort to help its port industry against the crisis. As an old saying goes--United we stand, Divided we fall, collaboration and cooperation are best policies for us in difficult times. Therefore, port authorities should take effective measures to strengthen cooperation in harmonizing regulations and management, so as to reduce non-physical barriers and break protectionism, and at the same time to enhance services quality provided to the port industry. I sincerely hope that Council Members would make full use of the APSN as a platform to exchange views and strengthen cooperation, and jointly create a favorable and open environment for the sustainable development of the port industry.
Secondly, port industry in the region should seek new modes of communication and cooperation for a common development. Asia-Pacific region is now in an era of interdependency, communication and cooperation are important to the development of port industry. Over the past years, port industry has been dominated by competition, however, with the deepening of the interdependency and widespread of the crisis, no single port could stand alone in isolation, and the only way out is cooperation for win-win situation. I hope that ports of APEC member economies would integrate resources and make mutual complements of each other's advantages by strengthening cooperation in information sharing, technological and personnel exchange to provide better services to shipping industry, and seek new cooperation mechanisms within the framework of APSN and other Organizations to achieve common development.
Thirdly, efforts should be made on developing port economy for the acceleration of APEC economic integration. Ports play an indispensible role in international trade and global supply chain. As an important land-sea interface for intermodal transport, ports have become a center of capital, technology and talents. The development of port-related industries, namely manufacturing, trade, logistics, fiancé and tourism, will not only give impetus to port infrastructure construction, but also promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment so as to accelerate the regional economic integration.
Fourthly, it is important to enhance port security and protect environment for ensuring the safe and sustainable development of port industry. The development of port industry should be aimed at long-term interests, by which it means that a coordinated development should be maintained among port operational efficiency, safety, security and environmental protection. This year marks the fifth year following the implementation of the IMO ISPS Code. I hope that member economies would take this opportunity to strengthen exchange and cooperation on port security to enhance the overall security level of the port industry in the region. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to build up safe, secure and green ports. We have paid a close attention to the relationship between development and environmental protection in port infrastructure construction. Ports are built in benefit for current and future generations, it is important to keep a coordinated development between port economy and environmental protection for ensuring the sustainable development of port industry.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The financial crisis is not to be afraid of and difficulties are surmountable. I believe there is always sunshine behind the clouds. As long as we join up our hands and rebuild confidence, the port industry in the Asia-Pacific region will soon embrace a promising future.
APSN has been brought with many challenges and opportunities since its inception. I hope that it will become a unique platform for communication and cooperation among port and port-relation industries in the region, I also hope Council Members and Regular Members will work together to overcome the difficulties and contribute to the development of port and shipping industries in the region. The Ministry of Transport of China will continue its utmost support to the work by the APSN, and is willing to work with its counterparts in member economies for promoting a sound and sustainable development of port industry in the Asia-Pacific region.
Finally, I wish this meeting a great success!
Thank you!