CHINESE DELEGATION ARRIVES IN U.S. TO STUDY MARITIME PRACTICES
A delegation of Chinese government officials will arrive in Washington today to study U.S. maritime regulatory practices, policies and standards.
The delegation was invited to Washington after U.S. government officials, led by Maritime Administrator William G. Schubert, concluded bilateral talks in Beijing in March regarding China’s new international maritime regulations.
The Chinese delegation includes Ministry of Communication officials Zhang Guofa, deputy director-general of the Department of Water Transport; Huang Keqing, director of Department of Legislative Affairs; Xiong Wei, vice director of the Department of Water Transport; and Gao Haiyun of the Department of Water Transport. Also included in the delegation is Lei Lingfei, an official of the State Council’s Legislative Affairs Office.
The Chinese delegation is expected to start the week in meetings with Federal Maritime Commission officials. The latter part of the week may include meetings with industry groups, such as the National Industrial Transportation League, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Transportation Intermediaries Association and New York Freight Forwarders Association.
The Chinese delegation also asked MarAd to arrange a visit to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. today or Tuesday. The delegation is expected to return to China April 30.
“We are focusing on getting the implementing rules that MOC (Ministry of Communications) is currently drafting to reflect international market practice,” said Bruce Carleton, acting deputy maritime administrator in a letter obtained by American Shipper. “It will be essential to impress on the MOC fact-finding team the need for China to adopt a fully market-oriented approach and to do way with its restrictive policies.”