Glad to learn that China Classification Society (CCS) is going to celebrate its 50th anniversary and chair the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) for the second time. I would like, on behalf of the Ministry of Communications, to convey our heartfelt congratulations and extend our warmest regards to all CCS staff, both old and new!

    CCS is a very important and authoritative technical body in China's transport industry and constitutes an important supporting system for China's shipping development. After 50 years' development, the overall strength of China's transport industry has been apparently enhanced, which can be demonstrated by the historic breakthrough especially in water borne transportation, with ocean-going fleet ranking the 5th and port cargo and container throughput ranking Number 1 in the world. As a whole, the rapid development of China's market economy drives the high-speed growth of China's transport industry, which promotes the leap-forward development of CCS, and in turn CCS becomes a strong driving force for China's moving toward a big and strong shipping country.

     Developing from a small shipping country before liberation to a big one at present, China has experienced all kinds of hardships, and one valuable experience is to rely on the development of shipping technology. Currently, China is marching from a big shipping country towards a strong one, which still needs strong support of advanced shipping technology. CCS is a technology-oriented classification society, and its development from a small society to a big and strong one greatly helps erect the international image of our merchant fleet and improve the shipping competitiveness of our national. In the arena of international maritime affairs, CCS has been actively involved in various activities organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO), participated in the development/modification of international conventions and standards for ships, and played a significant role in advocating China as IMO Category-A Council Member and promoting China's position in the global maritime sector. All this demonstrates that CCS has become an influential class society in the international maritime community. In a future where science and technology play a leading role, China needs a strong classification society to promote the coordinated development of its transport industry; therefore, CCS still needs to shoulder heavy responsibilities in years to come.

     Building a strong ocean country and a big shipping nation is necessary for the country's development, and is also a mission CCS shall undertake. The Eleventh Five-year Programme has charted the orientation for China's water borne transport industry and maritime development, and also provided a larger development space for CCS. Facing the golden opportunities brought by her 50th Anniversary, CCS should summarize its corporate culture and spiritual quintessence, stick to the tenet of building the Society upon technology and trust, keep national development in view, put greater efforts into technical innovation, public interests and business internationalization, strive to be a first-rate international classification society and a pacesetter of the transport industry in order to make greater contributions to the country's transport industry and achieve new successes.