The biennial World Port Conference is scheduled to take place in Shanghai between May 21 and 27 this year, according to the Shanghai International Harbor (Group) Co. Ltd.

This will be the first time that China is hosting the event.

Participants at this year's conference will include 1,000 officials and representatives from the Association of International Ports, representatives from the World Bank, government department representatives, international shipping companies and port operators.

The conference is organized by the Association of International Ports, which is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The association has 347 members including China's Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian ports.

The conference will focus on topics such as the influence of economic globalization on harbor environments and the shipping industry, port development, port security, diversified investment in port cities and port technical innovation. The 24th International Port Exhibition, 22 technical panel discussions, and six special working meetings will be held concurrently with the seven-day conference.?

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2005)