Liu Xiaoming,vice-minister of transport, speaks at the China Maritime Forum 2019 in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2019. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The nation's maritime sector will continue to deepen supply-side structural reform to forge the formation of a safe, fast, efficient, green and economical modern shipping system, a top transport official pledged on Thursday.

"We will strive to realize high-quality development in the shipping and maritime sector, making China a world-leading maritime powerhouse to prop up the nation's economic and social development," said Liu Xiaoming,vice-minister of transport, at the China Maritime Forum 2019 in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province.

The forum is a major event to mark China's 15th Maritime Day, which falls on Thursday.

The China Maritime Forum 2019 opens in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, July 11, 2019. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]