A strong lineup of speakers and panel discussions are set for the 11th China Cruise Shipping conference and trade show, scheduled for Sept. 23-25 in Tianjin, China, and organized by the China Cruise and Yacht Industry Association (CCYIA).

The opening ceremony on Sept. 23 will feature industry leaders Arnold Donald, president and CEO, Carnival Corporation; and Adam Goldstein, president and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises.

They will be joined by a host of high-ranking government officials, including Jiahua Zhang, vice secretary general, The People’s Government of Tianjin; Li Shihong, vice minister, China National Tourism Administration; Zhao Haishan, vice mayor, The People’s Government of Tianjin; Qian Yongchang, president, China Communications and Transportation Association; Xin Guobin, vice minister, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and Wenming Hu, chairman, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

Each speaker is expected to deliver an address on the Chinese cruise industry.

Moving forward, a president’s discussion will again feature Goldstein, who will also be joined by Alan Buckelew, COO, Carnival Corporation; Colin Au, advisor and founding president, Genting Hong Kong; Frank J. Del Rio, president and CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings; Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises; Fan Min, president and CEO, SkySea Cruise Line; Li Xiao Peng, president, China Merchants Group; and Wu Qiang, president, China State Shipbuilding Corporation.

In what has become standard practice, there is also an important closed-door session between cruise line officials and government leaders.

Another panel on Sept. 23 brings together brand leadership in Asia and includes Zinan Liu, president, Royal Caribbean China; Buhdy Bok, president, Costa Group Asia; Anthony H. Kaufman, senior vice president Asia, Princess Cruises; Ang Moo Lim, president, Star Cruises; Thatcher Brown, president, Dream Cruises; David Herrera, president Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings China; Helen Huang, president China, MSC Cruises; Wei Yu, chief strategy officer and executive vice president, SkySea Cruise Line; and Wei Tao, chairman, Diamond Cruises.

The destinations will have their own time to speak on Saturday morning, September 24, to discuss cruise port development and shore excursion offerings.

The session will be led by He Zhineng, chairman of the Tianjin Tourism Board, and also including Wang Hong, district party committee secretary, Shanghai Baoshan People’s Government; Matthew Wu, chairman, International Cruise Council Taiwan; Younong Wang, chairman, Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal; Zhang Zhendong, general manager, Tianjin International Cruise Center Home Port; Jeff Bent, managing director, Worldwide Cruise Terminals; Zeng Xianyun, chairman, Sanya Phoenix Island International Cruise Center; Tianping Yang, general manager, China Merchants Shekou Industrial Zone; and Zhang Tie, general manager, Dalian Port. More speakers are expected to be added to this line-up.

As cruise lines move to implement supply chains in China, not only purchasing locally but looking to buy for their fleets, a worldwide supply-chain forum will be moderated by Li Peisheng, chairman of Tianjin Cruise and Yacht Association. Speakers expected included Anderson Liao, , purchasing director – China operations, Royal Caribbean Cruises; and Eugene Marino, vice president supply chain, Princess Cruises, in addition to expected participants from MSC, Star and SkySea.

The shipbuilding panel has also developed considerably year-over-year, with representatives set to present from a number of Chinese shipyards, as well as European builders including Fincantieri and STX France, in addition to a number of consulting companies.

The final Saturday panel discussion will circle in on recruitment, with moderator Xiao Baojia from Shanghai Maritime University.

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The 11th edition of the China Cruise Shipping and International Expo is the Asia/Pacific’s No. 1 cruise event, learn more at http://www.ccyia.com/. The show takes place Sept. 23-26 in Tianjin.

Read a detailed analysis of the Chinese cruise market Cruise Industry News Fall/October 2016 Quarterly Magazine, due out Sept. 23.

Visit Cruise Industry News, the official event media sponsor and partner, at CCS in Tianjin