ACC Representative Attended the 2018 Xiamen International Ocean Forum

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On 2 November 2018, co-hosted by the Ministry of National Resources of China, Xiamen Municipal Government and Xiamen University, the 2018 Xiamen International Ocean Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian Province.

Mr. Zhang Yigong, Vice Mayor of Xiamen, presided over the opening ceremony of the forum. Mr. Frederic Loua, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy of Guinea, Mr. Zhang Zhi, Counsil of International Cooperation Department of Ministry of National Resources, Mr. Zhong Sheng, Deputy Director-General of Fujian Provincial Bureau of Ocean and Fisheries, addressed the ceremony. About 800 participants from more than 30 countries attended the forum, including representatives of maritime authorities, enterprises and international organizations as well as experts and scholars. The representative of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) took part in the event upon invitation.

Mr. Zhang Zhanhai, Director-General of Ocean Strategic Planning and Economic Development Department of Ministry of Natural Resources, delivered a keynote speech entitled “Strengthening Coastal Zone Spatial Management and Developing a High-quality Marine Economy”. Experts and scholars from universities and institutions of China, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand and Turkey, representatives of international and regional organizations such as the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) shared their views and research outcomes on blue growth and blue economy under the framework of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, marine science, management strategy for marine sustainable development, promotion of integrated coastal zone management and regional integration of the East Asian Sea Region. During the forum, the attendees also visited the exhibitions at China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences and appreciated the selected award-winning works from Marine Culture Creative Design Contests for Students of Chinese Colleges and High Schools.

The forum was one of the important events of the World Ocean Week in Xiamen 2018 with the theme of “All Together for a Shared Sustainable Ocean”. In line with the new situation and requirements of the marine cause in new era, the forum aimed to deepen practical cooperation among countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to build a new type of blue community of shared future and achieve sustainable development of marine economy.