Zhou Jianhua, a lawmaker and executive director of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) Co, shares his insights during a media interview. [Photo/Tide News]

As the Zhejiang province's two sessions open in Hangzhou, Zhou Jianhua, a lawmaker and executive director of COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (Zhoushan) Co, shared his insights on Zhoushan and its plans to build an international maritime service hub.

This year's Zhejiang provincial two sessions refer to the Third Session of the 14th Zhejiang Provincial People's Conference, the legislative body, and the Third Session of the 13th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the political advisory body.

Speaking during a media interview, Zhou highlighted the significant importance of Ningbo Zhoushan Port in connecting domestic and international markets.

He noted that according to the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry, Zhoushan's ship repair output value accounted for 42.5 percent of the national total in 2024, with 38.6 percent of the country's total repaired ships, providing Zhoushan with unique advantages for building an international maritime service hub.

According to Zhou, Zhoushan will continue to focus on the high-end, intelligent and green development of its shipbuilding industry, and will consolidate its position as the world's largest ship repairs and conversions service base, injecting strong momentum into Zhejiang's entire marine economy.

Most notably, he suggested that Zhejiang should strengthen the establishment of maritime arbitration institutions and talent cultivation. He proposed the province should also enhance its cooperation and exchanges with domestic and international maritime arbitration institutions.