On the occasion of the 14th ASF annual meeting, I feel greatly honored, on behalf of the China Shipowners Association (CSA), to express my sincere greetings to the representatives of ASF member associations and shipping companies, especially to the Australian Shipowners Association, which is successfully sponsoring and hosting the meeting.

Since the last ASF annual meeting, it has been an extraordinary year, the fastest year for world economic growth in the last 30 years, it has been said. This has given the world economy a rare momentum of developing common prosperity with, it appeared, much stronger economic growth in China particularly. Hence world marine transportation volumes have prospered in growth, and the shipping world has recognized that the year 2004 was a most prosperous shipping year. It has been forecast that 2005 will be another favorable year for shipping.

With all my ASF colleagues, I hope we can continue to strengthen communications and cooperation as usual, keep the shipping market in good order, and maintain healthy further development to achieve another splendid shipping year!

I wish the 14th ASF Assembly great success.