May 23, People’s Daily -- The 24th IAPH World Ports Conference, sponsored by the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), opened Monday (May 23)in east China's commercial and industrial center Shanghai.

More than 1,000 government officials and representatives from the IAPH members and world famous shipbuilding companies attended the conference.

"The opportunities and challenges of the world harbors" is chosen to be the theme of the conference, during which 22 specialized technological sub-meetings will be held on discussions of the developing strategies of world harbor and shipping industries and the technological innovation. Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said at the opening ceremony that as China's biggest port city, Shanghai attaches importance to the harbor construction, adding that the metropolis is planning to build itself as an international shipping center.

It is the 50th founding anniversary of IAPH this year. The association will also hold celebration activities in Shanghai.