China Ocean Shipping Supply Net, facing ocean shipping supply industry, is mainly organized by China Friendship External Supplier Association of Commerce.

Approved by Chinese Government, China Friendship External Supplier Association of Commerce (CFESA) was established in 1992 as a nation-wide professional organization. It is constituted of Friendship Companies (stores), Overseas Chinese Commodities Supply Companies (stores), Shopping Companies for Taiwan Compatriots and Ocean Shipping Supply Companies throughout the country.

Friendship Company (Store): set up in the early 1950's, mainly with the customs of people in foreign Embassies and Consulates as well as other foreign organizations and institutions, foreign specialists, students, visitors and tourists. Friendship Store runs Chinese specialties and commodities with features of " high class, high quality, famous brand and new style ".

Overseas Chinese Commodities Supply Company (Store) and Shopping Company for Taiwan Compatriots: Chinese government always pays high attention to supplying commodities for overseas remittance certificate holders. Preferential treatment has been given returned overseas Chinese, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as their families and relatives. Since 1950's, supplying spots for such commodities have been set up in main of hometowns of overseas Chinese. With the easing of relationship between mainland and Taiwan, more and more Taiwan compatriots have come back to mainland. In order to satisfy their consuming needs, Shopping Companies for Taiwan Compatriots were set up in some provinces such as Fujian.

Ocean Shipping Supply Company: established in 1950's mainly facing foreign vessels, Chinese ocean vessels, international crews and passengers. Business scope includes: Supplying ship provisions, ship stores to foreign vessels and Chinese ocean ships calling in Chinese ports; dock repair, painting, and crew landing service. Ocean Shipping Supply Companies set up Crew's Stores, offering services of commodities selling, laundering, posting, packing, vehicles and barge leasing, interpreting and accompanying, agent and so on. They also have duty-free stores, supplying duty-free goods such as cigarettes, liquors, etc. in accordance with international practice.

For many years, above-mentioned enterprises have made efforts in managing to supply superior commodities and services by conscientiously implementing the state's foreign polices and overseas Chinese polices. By doing these, the enterprises not only have won trusts from foreigners, overseas Chinese and their relatives, but also have gained lots of foreign exchange. China's economy has developed rapidly and the supply of commodities and materials has become richer and more various since the reform and open-up. In the new era, when continuing the efforts to serve original customers, the companies have made new contributions to the market flourishing in providing good services to domestic and foreign guests.

The aim of CFESA is: coordinating members' relationships, improving mutual communications, guiding economic activities of companies and strengthening management of the industry. CFESA reports existing problems and requests to government on behalf of members, safeguards the legal interests of members, organizes members to implement government's policies and regulations, serves government and companies, improves international friendly communication and promotes the development of the industry.

Main functions of CFESA are as follows:
● Organize members to implement related guidance, policies, laws and regulations issued by government, submit proposals on professional planning and policy to government departments;
● Report members' opinion to government, safeguard and represent the legal interests of members;
● Promote communication and cooperation between different industries and enterprises;
● Organize information exchange, survey and forecast, provide information and consulting services, edit and issue association journal;
● Organize training for members to improve overall qualities/performance and level of operating and management in this profession.
● Organize to formulate professional regulations, practice standardized management, protect fair competition;
● Develop public welfare and other activities which are for profession;
● Maintain close relationship with ISSA and marine services companies around the world, transfer useful information to members in time;
● Organize members to attend international conference and business tours, improve cooperation and communication of international economy, technology, management, etc.;
● Accept and assistant qualified domestic shipping supply and service companies to join ISSA.

With the full support from the relevant government departments and all members, CFESA is playing more and more important role in assisting the government, maintaining members' legal rights, reporting members' voices, organizing commodities transactions, developing uniting and cooperating, promoting information exchange and international communication, improving enterprises images and so on. In 1998, CFESA joined International Ship Suppliers Association (ISSA) and became Board Member and National Association. It brings more opportunities to learn advanced management experience from foreign companies and organizations in the same industry, to connect the domestic shipping supply industry with international market, to upgrade the status of Chinese ship suppliers and their fames in the world, and also to create more business opportunities for all members.

China's professional ocean shipping supply companies were established in 1950's in some major ports. With the development of ocean transportation business in China, more and more ocean shipping supply companies have been set up in some medium sized and even small port cities. A professional ocean shipping supply industry covering wide business scope is thus coming to its formation.

Main tasks of ocean shipping supply companies are as follows: providing materials and services to foreign vessels and Chinese ocean ships calling in Chinese ports, including supplying of ship provision, bonded stores, ship stores, lifesaving equipment; Offering ship dock repairing, painting and other laboring, crew landing for calling foreign vessels and Chinese ocean vessels. Ocean shipping supply companies set up Crew's Stores, providing services of goods selling, laundering, posting, packing, consigning, leasing of vehicles and barges, interpreting and accompanying, agent and so on. With the duty-free stores for crew, ocean shipping supply companies also supply duty-free goods such as cigarettes, liquor, etc. according to international practice.

In 1992, China Friendship External Supplier Association of Commerce (CFESA) was established in Beijing by some foreign-related commercial enterprises: Ocean Shipping Supply Companies, Friendship Stores (Companies), Overseas Chinese Commodities Supplying Companies (Stores), Shopping Companies for Taiwan Compatriots throughout the country.

One of the major fields of CFESA is concerning ocean shipping supply industry. Approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the former Ministry of Internal Trade in April 1994, CFESA joined International Ship Suppliers Association (ISSA) representing Chinese Government and became Board Member and National Association. CFESA's entrance in ISSA brings more business opportunities for its member enterprises by closely connecting Chinese ocean shipping supply industry with international market.

With the aim of "service first", CFESA is making efforts in safeguarding interests of its members, strengthening industry management, developing the bridging function between members enterprises and government departments and pushing international friendly communications.

CFESA' s main activities in shipping supply field are listed as below:
● Organize members to implement related guidance, polices, laws and regulations issued by government, offering professional planning and policy suggestions to government departments;
● Reflect member's opinion to government and safeguard and represent the legal interests of members;