Core Insights - The 2025 Free Trade Port (Zone) International Maritime Law Conference was held in Zhoushan, emphasizing the importance of maritime legal cooperation for high-quality development of Zhejiang's foreign trade [1][2] - The conference attracted over 200 participants from government agencies, international organizations, shipping logistics companies, and legal sectors, with more than 17,000 online attendees [1] - The event aims to deepen international maritime legal discussions and promote global shipping governance through collaborative efforts [1][2] Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference is part of the 8th Oil Merchants Conference and focuses on the theme "Integration of Law and Business to Support the Construction of Bulk Commodity Resource Allocation Hub" [1] - It is organized by the China Maritime Arbitration Commission and the Zhejiang Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, with the Zhoushan Management Committee of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone as the host [1] Group 2: Challenges and Opportunities - Chen Jianzhong, President of the Zhejiang Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, highlighted multiple challenges facing international trade, including geopolitical conflicts and trade protectionism [2] - He emphasized the need for a stable and predictable maritime commercial legal investment system to address current economic challenges and support the healthy development of the global marine economy [2] Group 3: Expert Contributions - The conference featured seven top experts in maritime commercial law and finance, discussing topics such as dispute prevention and resolution from an international organization perspective [2] - Key areas of focus included international arbitration rules, shipping law practices, and legal services for bulk commodity trade [2] Group 4: Practical Collaborations - A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Zhoushan Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Hong Kong Maritime Arbitration Association, marking the first collaboration between a Hong Kong maritime arbitration body and a trade promotion organization [3] - The conference also introduced guidelines for rapid arbitration and risk prevention in foreign trade contracts, contributing to the legal framework of the free trade zone [3] Group 5: Historical Context - Since its inception in 2018, the conference has successfully held six sessions, attracting nearly 2,000 guests from over 50 countries and regions, with online viewership exceeding 170,000 [3]