EU and China hold 19th maritime transport cooperation meeting in Shanghai

The 19th implementation meeting of the EU-China Maritime Transport Agreement took place on October 19, 2026, in Shanghai. The high-level dialogue focused on the green transition of the shipping industry, the state of international maritime transport, and the resilience of supply chains between the European Union and China.

The European Commission delegation was led by Fotini Ioannidou, Director of Maritime Transport at the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, while the Chinese delegation was headed by Yang Huaxiong, Director General of the Water Transport Bureau at the Ministry of Transport. The meeting involved representatives from the European Commission, EU member states, relevant Chinese authorities, and the maritime industry from both regions. Participants exchanged views on current developments in global shipping, emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue to ensure stable maritime trade connectivity.

This meeting marks the ongoing cooperation between the two sides under the established maritime transport framework. No specific new legislative decisions were detailed in the initial report, though the meeting served to reaffirm the commitment of both parties to strengthen maritime ties and navigate the challenges of environmental regulation and supply chain logistics together.