Marine experts meet at key event

Cooperation on wide-ranging maritime issues, such as science, environmental protection and economy discussed at high-level talks in Shandong province

Officials, entrepreneurs and experts from more than 30 countries and regions as well as international organizations looked to further cooperation and exchanges in marine fields at a high-level forum, which ran from Wednesday to Friday in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province.

The 2019 East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Qingdao Forum, which had "Towards Greater Openness and Connectivity" as its theme, was organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Shandong provincial government and the Qingdao municipal government.

The East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform, or EAMCP, is a high-level program under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. It aims to enhance exchanges and cooperation among East Asian countries and across the world within maritime fields such as economy, science and technology, culture, environmental protection, as well as disaster prevention and reduction.

"China is willing to establish a 'blue partnership' with other countries and regions to jointly build sea lanes, develop the economy, take advantage of resources, solve ocean mysteries and contribute more to cooperation," said Cheng Liwei, chief engineer of the Ministry of Natural Resources, in his keynote speech at the forum's opening ceremony on Thursday.

Cheng advocated improving people's welfare by planning "blue economic development" on the basis of ocean space, enhancing environmental protection and ecological restoration and using "smart technology" for a better understanding of the ocean.

"An open, inclusive, practical and mutually beneficial 'blue partnership' will help build a community with a shared future for mankind in marine fields," Cheng added.

The 2019 East Asia Marine Cooperative Research Report was released by the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations at the opening ceremony.

Fu Mengzi, vice-president of the organization, said the shared future for mankind in marine fields offered a new vision.

Fu put forward a "5C" proposal, which stands for community, connectivity, cooperation, capacity and contribution.

Ean Yong Hian Wah, chairman of Port Klang Authority of Malaysia, spoke highly of China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative.

"The initiative offers opportunities for trade and capital flow across borders and it also helps investment in services, multimodal logistics and infrastructure," Ean said.

Ean noted that ports played a major role in marine cooperation. China and Malaysia established a port alliance in 2015 by way of mutual assistance and joint cooperation, particularly in the fields of port studies and communications.

Aimee Gonzales, executive director of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, or PEMSEA, said integrated coastal management and partnerships among coastal areas are needed.

"Many coastal management issues separate across sectors. The conventional, sectoral management approach, which addresses challenges separately on a sector-by-sector basis, is typically not sufficient for solving complex problems in coastal areas," Gonzales said.

"The PEMSEA aims to foster and sustain healthy and resilient coasts and oceans, communities and economies across the seas of East Asia through integrated management solutions and partnerships," she added.

Qingdao has hosted the EAMCP Qingdao Forum since 2016. It was originally called the Huangdao Forum. Huangdao, a western district in Qingdao, is also known as Qingdao West Coast New Area, where the EAMCP is headquartered.

The previous three sessions attracted more than 820 participants from 53 countries and regions, said Qingdao Mayor Meng Fanli.

"The EAMCP, as well as its forum, has served as an important platform to carry out extensive cooperation in marine sectors among enterprises from China, Japan, South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," said Meng.

Hu Qing contributed to this story.

(China Daily 09/07/2019 page16)