The China Maritime Museum to Observe Its Grand Opening Ceremony
Being one of the activities in the China maritime day, the opening ceremony of China Maritime Museum was held in July 5th, where Vice Minister of Transportation Xu Zuyuan, Deputy Mayor of Shanghai Shen Jun, and the President of International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM) were all presented at the ceremony. Except that, some of the former captains and maritime students were also invited.
Yu Zhengsheng, the member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party, or the party chief of Shanghai,conveyed in his congratulations that the development of Shanghai international shipping centre is a glorious task offered by the party Central Committee and the State Council, during the course of which China Maritime Museum is considered as the pivotal element for spreading Maritime culture and will further turn into a base of the national maritime culture communication and patriotic education, enhancing the culture broadcasting capacity of Shanghai international shipping centre. Besides, he hoped the museum would persist improving its popularity and authority in the international maritime community by exploiting its advantages of collecting, researching, and educating with the aim of “leading globally”, and subsequently contribute to the development of China’s maritime industry.
Also, Li Shengseng, Minister of Transportation, indicated in his congratulations that the institution of China Maritime Museum has made up the blemish of a maritime giant lacking a relevant national museum, comprehensively told the development history of China, and widely spread the maritime knowledge. Besides, he wished China Maritime Museum to grasp the developing opportunity, pursue the ambition of excellence, consummate its pivotal functions, exploit its authority and directivity, be centered in the communication of maritime culture and academic research, and thus to contribute to the development of international shipping center.
As a siren initiated the climax of the ceremony, Xu and Shen jointly pushed the telegraph, declaring the opening of China Maritime Museum.
China Maritime Museum is the first national maritime museum approved by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and jointly built by the Ministry of Transport and Shanghai Municipal Peoples’ Government. Next to the Dishui Lake in Lingang New Town, the museum covers an area of 24,830 square metres with a total floor space of 46,434 square meters, including an indoor display area of 21,000 square meters and an outdoor display area of 6,000 square meters.
Boasting the largest and highest-class of its kind in the country, China Maritime Museum functions for cultural relics collection, academic research, social education, exhibition and science popularization. With “navigation” as the theme and “historical items” as the basis, it is composed of six exhibition halls, two special exhibition zones, two science movie theatres and a children’s amusement centre.
By contrasting the past, present and future of China’s maritime industry, the Museum aims to spread the brilliant civilization and fine traditions of the Chinese nation, carry forward the spirit of “Patriotism, Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Scientific Navigation” and create a unique cultural atmosphere of Shanghai international shipping centre.
On July 6th, the first International Academic Symposium will also be held in China Maritime Museum.
