Digital technology is deeply integrated and mutually empowering with the shipping trade, demonstrating new features, according to industry experts who spoke at the 2026 Digitalization and Intelligence of Shipping and Trade Conference held in Shanghai on Wednesday.

"The digitization of shipping trade is a systematic project that covers the whole world and connects the entire industry chain, requiring global partners to work together in the same direction, jointly build, and share," Zhu Bixin, director of the board and president of Cosco Shipping, said.

"To achieve this, firstly, we need to establish a standard system and realize mutual recognition and interconnection," he continued. "Secondly, we need to promote collaborative innovation and deepen knowledge sharing. Thirdly, we need to build a solid safety foundation and solidify the foundation for development. The fourth is to promote integration and empowerment and explore the future blue ocean."

He noted that as an active practitioner of the global shipping business network, Cosco Shipping has closely cooperated with partners in shipping logistics, trade, finance, government, and other fields, to achieve paperless main shipping documents throughout the entire process, significantly improving the level of global trade facilitation.

"Looking back at the past, the digitalization of global shipping has entered the consensus period from the 'exploration period', presenting a trend of 'a hundred flowers blooming'," Xu Zuyuan, former vice-minister of transport, said. "Looking at the current situation, transformation has entered the 'deep water zone' of tackling difficulties, with opportunities and challenges coexisting."

Looking ahead to the future, he proposed four initiatives around building an open, green, and win-win digital shipping ecosystem.

"Firstly, we must adhere to open connectivity and jointly build a global digital infrastructure. Secondly, we must adhere to green integration and jointly promote sustainable development," he said. "We must adhere to integrated innovation and unleash the 'multiplier effect' of technology. We must adhere to bottom line thinking and coordinate development and security."