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Maritime routes and corridors serve as vital conduits for the movement of goods and the flow of supply chains, playing a pivotal role in maintaining a stable economic environment. However, numerous chokepoints scattered across the world, such as the Black Sea and the Red Sea, as well as international straits like the Taiwan Strait and the Strait of Hormuz, are susceptible to conflicts, attacks, or incidents that can have far-reaching implications for maritime safety, security, and connectivity. In particular, the South China Sea is known as one of the most important and crowded sea lanes of communication, bridging the link between the Indian and the Pacific oceans.

In Session 1, the panelists will discuss (i) the importance of ensuring connectivity and resilience in the South China Sea, drawing insights and lessons from the other parts of the world; (ii) how to respond to potential scenarios of “decoupling” or “blockade” of crucial maritime routes and corridors, including the South China Sea; (iii) how to link the South China Sea to other maritime corridors in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ports serve as crucial gateways for the transportation of goods and services worldwide. As the demand for interconnected and efficient logistics solutions continues to grow, seaport connectivity plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of international trade and commerce. In this Session, the panelists will share good practices and experience on how to set up port networks, both internally and externally, and how to connect to the world via Sustainable Smart Ports. What are the key factors to ensure the success of smart ports and the obstacles during the operations in practice?

In the digital age, maritime connectivity stands at the forefront of transformative changes that redefine the landscape of global shipping and logistics. The integration of autonomous and high technologies, such as AI, has revolutionized the maritime industry, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and security. On the other hand, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it also becomes more vulnerable to some extent, for example, if undersea cables are disconnected by physical or cyberattacks. This Session aims to discuss the trends of digital transformation in enabling maritime connectivity; and how countries could prevent and counter emerging threats while taking advantage of high tech to ensure reliable connectivity and maritime security.

Recently, following the COP statements - from Glasgow to Dubai - in regards to decarbonisation, clean air policies or net-zero shipping, the number of green corridor initiatives around the world is increasing. This surge reflects the willingness of the international community, not only state actors but also the private sectors and industries, towards achieving strategic goals in marine environmental protection, energy transition and climate change.

In this Session, the panelists will: (i) share experiences and point out challenges of building green corridors, assess the implications of the green corridors (ii) discuss how to expand the network of green corridors by seeking new paths or domains beyond the shipping sector, in order to promote maritime resilience and connectivity.