China inaugurates permanent mission to IMO, boosting maritime ties

China's Permanent Mission to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was officially inaugurated on Tuesday at a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom—four months after China's Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, formally announced the decision at the IMO headquarters.

Ambassador Zheng highlighted the significance of China's deepened engagement with the IMO, noting that the "shipping industry connects China and the world."

He reaffirmed China's readiness to work even more closely with all IMO member states to support the organization's mission of ensuring safe, secure, and efficient shipping and a cleaner ocean—advancing sustainable development across the global maritime industry and safeguarding the stability and resilience of global supply chains.

Li Yang, Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Transport, emphasized that maritime development does not benefit China alone—it benefits the entire world. At a time when the global maritime sector faces unprecedented challenges, he said, only solidarity and collaboration can steer the industry toward a shared and prosperous future.

Founded in 1948 and headquartered in London, the IMO is a specialized UN agency responsible for setting global standards for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping.

The organization has 176 Member States and three Associate Members. China resumed its IMO membership in 1973 and has served as a Category A Council member since 1989.