98 UIM GENERAL ASSEMBLY
7 - 12 October 2025
Shanghai, China
th
Welcome address by Dr. Raffaele Chiulli
UIM President
Dear Delegates of the UIM National Authorities,
Dear Members of the UIM Council, Commissions and Committees,
Dear Guests,
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the upcoming 98th UIM General Assembly and Meeting Week in Shanghai, China, which is the International Powerboat Federation’s most important institutional event of the year.
We have kept excellent memories from the UIM General Assembly held in Qingdao in 2019, and we are very pleased to return to China six years later, thanks to the most appreciated support of the Baoshan Government, the China Water Ski, Underwater & Powerboat Federation, as well as Tianrong Sports and Cultural Management Ltd. Their efforts and contribution are essential for making this event possible.
The year 2025 marks an important milestone for the UIM and for its second youngest discipline, MotoSurf, which has been included in the Sports Program of The World Games, which are held in August in Chengdu, China. This is a significant step forward in the history of the UIM, as MotoSurf is the first motorsport ever to feature in this major international Event, which brings together over 5,000 athletes and officials. We acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the Promoter of the UIM MotoSurf World Championship to reach this goal, not least thanks to the exclusive use of sustainable energy sources.
The 2025 UIM General Assembly and meeting week in Shanghai will be preceded by the second round of this year’s UIM F1H2O World Championship, another spectacular powerboating Event, which will be staged in the proximity of our Hotel in Baoshang on Saturday, 4th October. All delegates and guests traveling to Shanghai for the General Assembly and preceding meeting week are kindly invited to attend this race on-site. Please keep this in mind when planning your travelling arrangements.
I look forward to seeing you in China for an inspiring week of fruitful discussions and exchanges.
Dr. Raffaele Chiulli
UIM President
Welcome address by Deng Xiaodong
Head of Baoshan District, Shanghai
Respected Mr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), and esteemed representatives of all member organizations,
Greetings to you all.
The 98th General Assembly of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) will soon be held in Baoshan. On behalf of the People’s Government of Baoshan District, I extend a heartfelt welcome to our friends in the global powerboating community who have traveled from afar, and express our sincere gratitude to the UIM Community for supporting the water sports in Baoshan.
Baoshan, located in northern Shanghai, is a riverside city shaped by water and flourished through its port. It lies at the confluence of three great rivers: the Yangtze, the Huangpu, and the East Wusong. With these natural advantages, Baoshan has actively embraced the development of water sports. Just last year, we successfully hosted world-class events such as the F1H2O World Powerboat Championship and the Shanghai Cruise Port International Sailing Regatta, which together attracted over 1.2 million visitors from home and abroad—contributing to Shanghai’s ambition of becoming a globally renowned sports city.
As the saying goes, “How delightful it is to have friends coming from afar!” Hosting the UIM General Assembly—one of the most prestigious gatherings in international powerboating—is both a great honor and an important opportunity for Baoshan. We are confident that, with the concerted efforts of all participants, this Assembly will serve as a platform for building consensus, deepening cooperation, and advancing shared development. Together, we will inject fresh momentum into the global growth of powerboating and further promote the prosperity of water sports worldwide. We sincerely wish the 98th UIM General Assembly every success, and hope that all representatives enjoy a rewarding and memorable stay in Baoshan. Baoshan awaits you with open arms, and we look forward to welcoming you this October!
Deng Xiaodong
Head of Baoshan District, Shanghai
Welcome address by Hui Zhan
Director General, China Water Sports Administration
Dear Mr. Raffaele Chiulli , President of the UIM, and distinguished UIM delegates,
Greetings!
The 98th UIM General Assembly is about to convene in Baoshan, Shanghai. On behalf of China Water Sports Administration, I extend the warmest welcome to all global motor boating colleagues traveling from afar! At the same time, I express heartfelt gratitude to the UIM for its longstanding support of motor boating development in China and for once again choosing China as the host of this General Assembly.
As an international metropolis, Shanghai has extensive experience in hosting high-level international events and conferences. We firmly believe that this Assembly’s presence in Shanghai will greatly enhance the city’s future prospects in motor boating and power sports. This marks another significant collaboration between China, the UIM, and national associations worldwide, following the success in Qingdao.
I wish the 98th General Assembly great success! May all delegates enjoy a pleasant and memorable stay in Shanghai!
Welcome to Shanghai!
Hui Zhan
Director General, China Water Sports Administration
About Baoshan District
Baoshan District lies in northern Shanghai, at the estuary of the Yangtze River, bordering Jiangsu Province. Serving as Shanghai’s northern gateway to the Yangtze River Delta, it spans 300 square kilometers and is home to 2.15 million residents.
The district’s name dates back to 1412, when an earthen hill was built on the southern bank of the Yangtze estuary to serve as a beacon for navigation. Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Di, inscribed a stele with the name “Baoshan,” giving the area its identity. Over the centuries, Baoshan has accumulated a rich legacy across what are known as its “Five Centuries”: a century of opening-up (as the first self-initiated port opening), a century of industry (birthplace of China’s engineering ships), a century of education (home to the origins of Fudan and Tongji Universities), a century of municipal progress (site of China’s first railway, the Songhu Railway), and a century of military history (a strategic fortress contested by many forces).
Today, Baoshan combines the strengths of both central urban and suburban areas, with vast spatial resources and a strong industrial base. Since the establishment of Baosteel in 1978, it has developed one of Shanghai’s most comprehensive and resilient industrial ecosystems. The district focuses on six strategic industries: cruise tourism, green and low-carbon development, new materials, biomedicine, robotics and intelligent manufacturing, and next-generation information technology. It also hosts two key municipal transformation zones—Nanda and Wusong—covering 32 square kilometers, making it one of the few large-scale, contiguous development areas remaining in Shanghai’s urban core.
Baoshan is also a hub for science and technology. Shanghai University, with leading disciplines in mechanical electronics and new materials, operates state-level laboratories in intelligent manufacturing and high-temperature superconductivity. The district is also home to Baowu Group, the world’s largest steel producer, which brings strong capital, land resources, and R&D capabilities that help accelerate the industrialization of cutting-edge technologies.
In terms of connectivity, Baoshan benefits from seven existing and under-construction metro lines, with three more planned. By 2027, the North Yangtze River High-speed Railway, the Shanghai–Nantong Railway, and Baoshan High-speed Railway Station will be operational, further cementing the district’s role as a transport hub linking Shanghai to the Yangtze River Delta.
In recent years, Baoshan has evolved from “building the district through opening-up” to “prospering through industry” and has now entered a new stage: “strengthening through science and innovation.” Guided by national and municipal strategies, Baoshan is accelerating the development of its role as a key hub of Shanghai’s Science and Technology Innovation Center, a central urban district of a global metropolis, and a model zone for green, low-carbon transformation. Its ambition is clear: to become Shanghai’s northern engine for growth and a vital new economic pole in the Yangtze River Delta.