The Jinghang Grand Canal (Jining) Port and Shipping Economy Development Forum will take place in Jining, East China's Shandong province, from Aug 3 to 4.

The forum will focus on the development of port and shipping logistics along the Grand Canal, the integration of port and industry, and the inland waterway shipping industry chain.

Its goal is to gather insights and provide suggestions for the efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly development of the shipping industry along the Grand Canal.

During the forum, the National Inland Port and Shipping Alliance will be established, and several cooperation agreements between ports and shipping enterprises will be signed. A joint declaration on accelerating interconnection and promoting high-quality inland waterway shipping development in cities along the canal will also be released at the event.

The Grand Canal, a world cultural heritage site, is the world's longest and largest ancient canal. It spans 877 kilometers, and plays a crucial role in transporting commodities such as coal, oil, steel, and construction materials.

The Jining section is located at the northernmost point of the Grand Canal, and it has a total navigable distance of 1,100 kilometers, with its main channel covering 251 kilometers. This ranks Jining first among the 12 cities along the canal.

Jining city boasts over 8,500 vessels and more than 100,000 maritime professionals, and Jining Port leads in transport capacity among cities along the canal, which is why it is now one of China's main hub ports for inland waterway transportation.

The Jining section of the Grand Canal. [Photo/IC]