On the afternoon of 8 June 2026, marking the 18th World Oceans Day, a professional seminar on maritime law was held in Qianhai, Shenzhen. The event was co-hosted by the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA) and the Center for Ocean Law and Policy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), with the Shenzhen Municipal Planning and Natural Resources Bureau, the Shenzhen Municipal Ocean Development Bureau, and the Qianhai Research Base of the CASS Institute for the Comprehensive Rule of Law serving as co-organizers. The Guangzhou Maritime Court provided strong support for the event.

The seminar brought together experts and representatives from judicial bodies, research institutions, enterprises, protection and indemnity (P&I) clubs, and law firms. Discussions focused on the application and practical implications of China's newly revised Maritime Code, as well as its impact on shipping finance enterprises.

The opening ceremony featured addresses by Zhao Feng, Secretary General of the SCIA, and Wu Guining, Vice President of the Guangzhou Maritime Court.

Zhao Feng, Secretary-General of SCIA, delivered a speech.

Wu Guining, Vice President of the Guangzhou Maritime Court, delivered a speech.

The keynote speech session was delivered by Zhang Wenguang, SCIA Arbitrator and Director of the CASS Center for Ocean Law and Policy, and Li Lianjun, SCIA Arbitrator and Partner at Reed Smith LLP. Their speech focused on "Understanding and Application of the New Maritime Code" and "The Impact of China's Newly Revised Maritime Code on International Shipping Practice", respectively.

Zhang Wenguang, SCIA Arbitrator and Director of the CASS Center for Ocean Law and Policy, delivered a speech.

Li Lianjun, SCIA Arbitrator and Partner at Reed Smith LLP, spoke at the seminar.

A roundtable discussion focused on "Shipping Finance and Insurance Practice and Dispute Resolution under the New Maritime Code". Panelists included Chen Mingqiang, Chief Judge of the Shenzhen Tribunal of the Guangzhou Maritime Court; Zhang Xiaogang, Asset Management Director and Legal Director of Shenzhen Financial Leasing (Group) Co Ltd; Zhao Yachao, Assistant Vice President of Skuld (Far East); Li Lianjun; and Chen Xiangyong, SCIA Arbitrator and Managing Partner of WJC Law Firm. The discussion was moderated by Huang Yiming, Deputy Director of the SCIA Maritime Arbitration Center.

From left to right: Huang Yiming, Chen Mingqiang, Zhang Xiaogang, Zhao Yachao, Li Lianjun, and Chen Xiangyong.