Mr. Rodolphe Saadé, Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM Group, has received this Tuesday, July 4, 2017, Mr. Yong YING, Mayor of Shanghai, who is on an official visit to Marseille for the signature of the 30 years of twinning between the two cities. On this occasion, the Mayor of Shanghai and Rodolphe Saadé looked back on the history of the remarkable relationship between China and CMA CGM since 1992. “Since our establishment in Shanghai in 1992, we have built a strong and long-term relationship, with respect and trust, a relationship that is bound to continue,” said Rodolphe Saadé. “There is a fruitful cooperation between Shanghai and CMA CGM. The CMA CGM Group has demonstrated strong skills that are useful for the Port of Shanghai,” said Mr. Yong YING. CMA CGM is the only company he will visit during his trip in France. A meeting bringing together the French and Chinese political, economic world: Given its close relations with China and the city of Shanghai, CMA CGM was keen to invite several business leaders to strengthen their ties with this country, which offers enormous potential development. These include:
  • Mr. Jacques-Henri EYRAUD, President of the Olympique de Marseille,
  • Mrs. Elisabeth COQUET-REINIER, General Manager of ONET,
  • Mr. Jean-Pierre DREAU, Chief Executive Officer of SNEF,
  • Ms. Laure PIERRISNARD, Chief Executive Officer of Roy René,
  • Mr David SUSSMANN, General Manager of SeaFood Export.
Also attended the meeting:
  • Mr. Stéphane BOUILLON, Prefect of the PACA region,
  • Mr. Roland BLUM, Mr. Jean ROATTA and Mr. Didier PARAKIAN, deputies of the Mayor of Marseille.
CMA CGM and China, a historical relationship that began in 1992 Convinced of China’s future role in the global economy, Jacques Saadé, founder of the Group, opened an initial agency in Shanghai. John Wang, a professor of maritime law, was then recruited to establish the network of agencies and the commercial development. This fruitful relationship has made it possible to build the Group’s aura in China and earned it the nickname “Da fei” which means “The one who goes ahead”. In 1992, the vessel was capable of transporting 250 containers, calling China every 15 days. Today there are calls in China every 3 hours, with the capacity to transport up to 18,000 containers. CMA CGM in China today is positioned as one of the leaders in the Asian market and remains “very competitive in the port, maritime and logistics sectors” according to Mr. Yong YING. The visit of the Mayor of Shanghai follows the last visit of Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang in July 2015. It confirms CMA CGM’s position in China and its recognition by one of the world’s leading economies as one of the flowers of French industry. CMA CGM and China, 25 years after an unavoidable partnership “Your country and your city are today our biggest partners,” said Rodolphe Saadé. CMA CGM in China today:
  • More than 3,000 people in 61 agencies
  • 119 shipping lines are calling 13 Chinese ports
  • 5 weekly services to France, nearly one daily departure from the port of Shanghai for France
  • 2 weekly services between Marseille / Fos and Shanghai
CMA CGM has established numerous partnerships with Chinese groups:
  • CIMC for the construction of containers
  • China Merchants in terminals
  • COSCO in the maritime alliance, OCEAN Alliance