OREANDA-NEWS. December 12, 2012. China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) held a signing ceremony in Beijing for a strategic cooperation agreement, reported the press-centre of COSCO.

The ceremony was attended by Capt. Wei Jiafu, Chairman of the Board of COSCO Group, Mr. Ma Zehua, President of COSCO Group, Mr. Li Yunpeng, Executive Vice President of COSCO Group, Mr. Li Changyin, President of CSIC, Mr. Qian Jianping, Executive Vice President of CSIC, and Mr. Sun Bo, Executive Vice President of CSIC.

In the ceremony, Capt. Wei and President Li delivered speeches. On behalf of their companies, Mr. Li Yunpeng and Mr. Qian Jianping signed on the agreement.

Mr. Meng Qinglin, Managing Director of Dalian Ocean Shipping CO., Ltd, Mr. Liu Zheng, Managing Director of Dalian Shipbuilding CO., Ltd, and Mr. Xu Ziqiu, Managing Director of China Shipbuilding Industry International Trade CO., Ltd signed on the shipbuilding contract for 2+2 VLCCs, launching the first project of the cooperation agreement.

According to the agreement, COSCO and CSIC will deepen their cooperation in shipbuilding technology, logistics, transportation, etc. The VLCCs in the agreement are newly typed vessels with designs for energy conservation and environmental protection. Moreover, fuel consumption of the vessels is much lower than that of the traditional ones. The signing of the agreement will help with China's strive towards a maritime power, and realize low-carbon development.