July 11 marked the 22nd China Maritime Day and also the day on which World Maritime Day is observed in China. A series of events, including the 2026 China Maritime Day Forum, were held in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province.

Huang Youfang, Chairman of the Top 50 Shipping Elites Research Center (50SERC), attended the forum opening ceremony, the 2026 Seminar on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces in Shipping, and the Maritime Culture Special Event. During the Maritime Culture Special Event, he delivered a keynote speech titled “The Mission and Role of Education in Inheriting Maritime Culture in the AI Era.”

Huang Youfang, Chairman of the Top 50 Shipping Elites Research Center (50SERC).

The China Maritime Day Forum was jointly organized by the Chinese Society of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), and the Jiangsu Comprehensive Transportation Society.

Under the theme of “Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Leading the Future,” the forum focused on topics including digital transformation and upgrading of the shipping industry, green and sustainable development, emerging trends in maritime science and technology, maritime knowledge, the inheritance of maritime culture, and the promotion of the modern maritime spirit.

Through discussions, exchanges and sharing of development achievements, the forum demonstrated the new progress and achievements of China’s maritime development during the early stage of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, gathered industry strength, enhanced public awareness of navigation and maritime affairs, and contributed wisdom and efforts to accelerating the development of China into a transportation powerhouse and a maritime powerhouse.

The Maritime Culture Special Event was jointly organized by the Chinese Society of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and the China Maritime Museum. Under the theme of “Cultural Strength and the Spirit of the Maritime Silk Road,” the event focused on discussions surrounding the rich significance and contemporary value of maritime culture, canal culture and Maritime Silk Road culture in the new era.

Former Minister of the Ministry of Transport Huang Zhendong and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport Xu Zuyuan, among others, delivered keynote speeches.

In his keynote speech titled “The Mission and Role of Education in Inheriting Maritime Culture in the AI Era,”Chairman Huang Youfang examined the impact of artificial intelligence on the inheritance of maritime culture against the broader background of AI development.

Combining industry data with practical realities in cultural and educational development, he analyzed the new changes brought by AI to maritime cultural inheritance, explained the contemporary significance and role of maritime culture, defined the core responsibilities of maritime education in the digital era, and explored the unique characteristics of maritime culture preservation and the mission of education in this process.

His speech provided new perspectives on leveraging technology to promote the inheritance and global dissemination of maritime culture along the Maritime Silk Road.

Through participation in the China Maritime Day Forum series, the Top 50 Shipping Elites Research Center (50SERC)demonstrated its commitment to industry exchange and its role in supporting the high-quality development of the shipping sector.

Going forward, 50SERC will continue to leverage its role as a think tank platform, conduct research on major issues related to shipping development, and contribute intellectual support to building China into a maritime powerhouse.

Source:
Chinese Society of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; China Maritime Museum