The 6th International Conference of Yangtze-River Research and Innovation Belt (Y-RIB) has been successfully held at Ocean College, Zhejiang University during June 6 to 8, 2024. This conference is co-held by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Over 200 experts and scholars, encompassing representatives from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the World Bank, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Seoul National University, and Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group, among others, participated in the conference both virtually and physically.

At the opening of the seminar, Mr. Tiedao Fang, the Deputy Mayor of Zhoushan City, and Mr. Deqing Mei, the Party Secretary and Executive Vice President of the Ocean College, gracefully presented welcoming speeches, representing the Zhoushan City Government and the Ocean College respectively. Following that, Mr. Weimin Ren, the Director of the Transport Division at UNESCAP, Mr. Hui Xie, the Deputy Director General of the International Center of the Ministry of Transport, and Mr. Geun-Sub Kim, the Deputy President of the Korea Maritime Institute, all imparted captivating speeches at the conference. Adding further depth to the event, Mr. Kitack Lim, the former Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), delivered a keynote report centering on International Shipping and Global Challenges.

Over the course of the two-day seminar, a comprehensive collection of 20 session reports was organized. During these presentations and interactive exchanges, scholars from various universities worldwide enthusiastically presented and discussed their latest research findings in the domains of multimodal transport, shipping safety, smart ports, and green port and navigation. They also shared their research experiences and engaged in profound discussions on the diverse advanced practices of river-sea intermodal transportation across different regions.