On September 5, 2025, the "2025 Timber and Wood Products Conference," co-hosted by the China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association (CTWPDA) and Shandong Port Group, and organized by Shandong Port Rizhao Port Group Co., Ltd., was successfully held in Rizhao. Under the theme "Openness, Inclusiveness, Cooperation and Win-Win," the conference brought together over 1,000 representatives from enterprises, trade associations, and international organizations across 20 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Japan, and New Zealand. Participants gathered to discuss new trends in timber trade and explore pathways for sustainable development in the wood industry.

He Hui, Vice President of the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP), Wang Xinsheng, Deputy Secretary of the Rizhao Municipal Committee and Mayor of Rizhao, Li Jiafeng, President of CTWPDA, He Zhongjun, Vice President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shandong Sub-council, Sun Zhengfu, Deputy General Manager of Shandong Port Group, and Zhou Shenghong, Member of the Standing Committee of the Rizhao Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Rizhao, attended the conference.

In his address, Wang Xinsheng highlighted that Rizhao Port's strategic advantages in terms of its role as a major hub, its robust port-centric industrial foundation, and its attractive, livable environment provide unique resource endowments for timber imports, trade, and value-added processing. He noted that the city possesses strong capabilities in resource allocation, market reach, and regional competitiveness for advancing high-quality development in the timber and wood products sector. He expressed anticipation for exploring opportunities and fostering cooperation in areas such as timber trade, log futures, wood deep processing, and the development of timber structures, working together to create a mutually beneficial and win-win future. Li Jiafeng stated that China's wood industry has a solid foundation, vast market potential, and a positive long-term outlook that remains unchanged. He encouraged wood industry enterprises to strengthen their confidence and jointly propel China's timber and wood products sector towards a new stage of high-quality development driven by innovation, green and low-carbon principles, and efficient collaboration, working together to create an even brighter future for the industry.

Eighteen leading brand enterprises, including Shiyou, Jiusheng, Shengxiang, TATA, Mengtian, Tubao, and Dekekang, jointly launched an initiative to "Resist Inward Competition and Promote High-Quality Industry Development," aiming to foster healthy growth within the sector. During the conference, 12 projects were signed, including the Zhongsheng Zhijia Science and Innovation Park, a Modern Timber Structure Eco-Resort Hotel, and a Radiata Pine Supply Chain project.

Senior Advisor Petteri Nuolivirta from Indufor (Finland), Ma Siran, Secretary General of the Wood Importers and Exporters Committee of CTWPDA, Heiko Woerner, Strategic Advisor for the Tropical Timber Trade (TTT) project of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Jiang Xiudi, Senior Manager of the Second Commodity Department of the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE), delivered speeches on topics such as domestic and international timber and wood product market demand, log futures, and sustainable timber trade.

Parallel sessions were held concurrently with the main conference, including the "From Forest to Market – Building a Sustainable Tropical Timber Trade Supply Chain" China-Germany-Africa Trilateral Cooperation Exchange, the China Timber and Wood Products Trade Symposium, the China-Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands Sustainable Timber Trade Exchange, and the Timber Structure Industry Development Exchange. Focusing on the forefront of the industry, the conference served as an effective and pragmatic platform for exchange and cooperation, achieving significant results.