State Council issues guidelines to reform shipping industry
Policy initiative issued by State Council lifts importance of shipping to national strategic level
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Policy initiative issued by State Council lifts importance of shipping to national strategic level
Jing Yang and Ray Chan
04 September 2014
The State Council yesterday issued a set of guidelines on the development of the maritime and shipping industry in a landmark move that could lead to substantial reforms in the oversupplied and loss-making sector.
Named “guidelines on promoting a healthy development of the maritime industry”, the 15-point policy is the first time the cabinet issued guidance dedicated to shipping, a sector long overlooked by policymakers.
“This is the first time that the State Council drew up policies for long-term, systematic development of the shipping industry, lifting the industry’s status as of strategic importance for the country,” He Jianzhong, vice-minister of transport, said in a news conference in Beijing.
The guidelines call for optimisation of the structure of mainland-owned fleets and urge increased competitiveness of mainland shipping companies, which only carry a quarter of total imports and exports, according to He.
Zhang Shouguo, vice chairman of China Shipowners’ Association, said that he had been expecting the release of the policy for years.
“The release of the policy is a result of years of advocacy from the industry, and four to five years’ of study by the Ministry of Transport,” he said.
“For decades, shipping as an industry was not properly identified by the government. Its importance was overlooked.
“The release of the guidelines is definitely heartening and positive for us,” Zhang said.
“However, the more important issue now is implementation. We hope and we expect that more substantial polices will be discussed and implemented in the future.”
Because of high tax burdens, from corporate tax to seafarers’ salary tax, and red tape in vessel registration and importation, most mainland shipping companies sailing international routes have shunned the homeland, setting up operational bases in low-taxed jurisdictions and flying their vessels with foreign flags, Zhang added.
The guidelines also encourage development of sea-rail intermodal and inland waterway transport.
They set a target of 2020 for the nation to establish a “safe, convenient, economical, green, efficient and modern maritime system with international competitiveness”.