The 24th World Ports Conference will be held from May 21 to 27 in Shanghai, the first time the biennial international meeting is convened in China, the Shanghai Port Administration said Saturday.
 
Representatives from ports and shipping companies, experts and leaders of related international organizations will focus on investment in ports, development strategy of ports, the impact of economic globalization on shipping and port development, the environment and dredging of ports and shipping innovation at the 7-day gathering, said Director Xu Peixing of the administration.

The meeting is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants from more 80 countries throughout the world, he said.

Ocean shipping has become increasingly important in China with the rapid growth of the country's foreign trade, and port construction and management has drawn growing attention of both the government and the business world.

The World Ports Conference is sponsored by the International Association of Ports and Harbors. Shanghai won the bid to host the meeting at the 22nd World Ports Conference in Montreal, Canada, in2002.

This year's meeting is deemed as a major one as the International Association of Ports and Harbors is to celebrate the50th anniversary of its establishment.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2005)