China has become the world's largest ship-owning country in terms of gross tonnage, the Ministry of Transport said on Tuesday, adding that fleets owned by Chinese shipowners now total 249.2 million gross tonnes.

A ministry spokesperson made the remarks at a press conference ahead of the North Bund Forum in east China's Shanghai Municipality.

In 2022, the cargo throughput at China's ports neared 15.7 billion tonnes and the container throughput totaled 296 million twenty-foot equivalent units. Both figures have ranked first globally for years, according to Gao Haiyun, an official at the Ministry of Transport.

About 95 percent of China's foreign trade is carried by sea. The country has established sea transport routes with more than 100 countries and regions, covering coastal countries and regions under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the ministry.

Scheduled between September 22 and 24 in Shanghai, the North Bund Forum aims to promote global cooperation in the shipping industry.

(With input from Xinhua)