China-Europe maritime leaders advocate closer ties at inaugural summit

Industry leaders from China's shipbuilding sector and European shipping companies convened at the inaugural China-Europe Maritime Summit during SMM 2026, advocating for closer cooperation across key areas of maritime development.

The summit, organised by the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI), the German Shipowners’ Association (VDR), and DNV, brought together representatives from two segments of the maritime industry that collectively account for a significant portion of the global fleet.

Discussions centred on energy efficiency, operational flexibility, and digital innovation, which were identified as crucial for the industry as it addresses decarbonisation targets, evolving regulations, and uncertainties surrounding future fuel options.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, Group President and CEO at DNV, emphasised the timeliness and importance of gathering leaders from Chinese shipbuilding, European shipping, and the broader maritime value chain. He stated that decisions made now would shape shipping for decades, and the summit demonstrated a collective commitment to shaping the industry's future.

Collaborative Imperatives

Xu Peng, Chairman of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), highlighted the shared missions, complementary strengths, and promising prospects within the Chinese and European maritime sectors. He suggested the summit could serve as a foundation for deeper cooperation between China's shipbuilding industry and Europe's shipping community, aiming to expand full-chain collaboration and establish an interconnected ecosystem.

Dr Gaby Bornheim, President of the German Shipowners' Association (VDR), underscored the long-term nature of vessel investments for shipowners, characterising them as decades-long commitments rather than short-term ventures. She stressed that such long-term investments necessitate trusted partnerships, noting that many advanced commercial vessels result from collaboration between European shipowners and Chinese shipbuilders, as "excellence is rarely achieved in isolation."

China's shipbuilding industry is reported to represent approximately 70% of the global orderbook, while European shipowners operate over one-third of the world's fleet capacity. The increasing uncertainty faced by the global shipping industry makes finding flexible solutions essential, according to the summit organisers.

Panel Discussions and Participants

The summit agenda included two high-level panel discussions, moderated by Dr. Martin Kröger, CEO of VDR, and Li Yanqing, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of CANSI.

These panels featured senior executives from prominent Chinese shipbuilders, including China Merchants Industry (CMI), Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS), and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI). They were joined by representatives from European shipowners and operators such as Vogemann Reederei, Briese Schiffahrt, Bernhard Schulte, MPC Containerships, and Grieg Edge, alongside DNV.

According to Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, these discussions further highlighted the importance of close China-Europe collaboration in supporting the transformation of the shipping industry.