Blue economy becomes key part of China’s intl development cooperation

China invested more than 23 billion yuan ($3.43 billion) in international development cooperation related to the blue economy between 2018 and 2025, according to a report released by the China International Development Cooperation Agency on Tuesday.

The report, the eighth issue of "International Development Cooperation: China's Practice", focuses on the blue economy and reflects the enriched and expanded efforts in China's foreign assistance, Tang Ying, a spokeswoman for the agency, said.

The report cites examples including a friendship bridge in the Maldives, a training program on marine meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation and a cooperation project supporting fishery industry development in Mauritania, to illustrate the range of China's cooperation in support of the blue economy, which often refers to a sustainable ocean economy.

The report fully demonstrates China's active participation in global ocean governance and its practical efforts to help developing countries strengthen their capacity for sustainable development in the blue economy, Tang said.
China's cooperation in this area is reflected in increasing investments, diverse cooperation form, broadened cooperation fields and expanded geographical reach, according to the report.

Cooperation spans fields such as supporting infrastructure construction in partner countries, advancing locally suitable industries and collaborating on disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as protecting the marine ecological environment, the report noted.

Among them, infrastructure construction and industrial development projects accounted for 53 percent and 38 percent, respectively, between 2018 and 2025, highlighting the development orientation, it said.

China's cooperation practices cover a wide range of regions, with significant support directed toward small island and coastal developing states, the report said.

It said that 64 percent of China's cooperation projects were implemented in Asia and Pacific Island countries, while 36 percent were focused on Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean during the same period.

Looking ahead, the report noted that China will continue to support the United Nations in playing a central role in global ocean governance, assist small island states in enhancing their development resilience, and strengthen cooperation in marine technological innovation and sharing of applicable technologies.