China-Island Countries High-level Forum on Ocean Cooperation took place on November 9 in Pingtan, an island off E China' s Fujian province as well as the closest place on the mainland to the island of Taiwan.

Bearing the theme "Ecological Islands & Blue Development," the forum focuses on such topics as climate change, economic recovery and development, conservation and restoration of marine ecology, monitoring and early warning of marine disasters, blue economy, and marine technology and capacity building, among others of concerns to island countries.

Representatives from more than 10 island countries from the South Pacific, Caribbean and Indian Ocean areas and related international organizations, representatives of the envoys in China, and officials, experts, and scholars from Chinese marine management departments, scientific research institutions and colleges and universities participated in the forum online and offline.

In his speech, Wang Hong, deputy minister of Ministry of Natural Resources, China and administrator of the State Oceanic Administration, reviewed the course of mutual support and common development of China and island countries in the field of the ocean in recent years as well as the fruitful results achieved and proposed to further expand cooperation in 4 aspects:

First, strengthen strategic docking and policy integration, consolidate blue partnerships, and promote the common development of marine undertakings;

Second, promote multi-bilateral cooperation to improve quality and efficiency, regularly organize high-level marine cooperation forums, and jointly build new platforms such as the Marine Disaster Prevention Sub-center of China-Pacific Island Countries;

Third, promote the sharing of knowledge and information services, propel the joint construction of marine data product services and management systems, and assist island countries in marine development and management;

Fourth, enhance collaboration in global marine governance, strengthen coordination in conservation of marine biological diversity, sustainable exploitation, ocean resource development and environmental protection, and climate change.

Lin Wenbin, vice governor of the People' s Government of Fujian Province, introduced the exchanges and cooperation between Fujian and the local government of Pacific island countries. Li stressed that Fujian is one of China' s major marine provinces with the steady progress of the marine economy. Next, Fujian will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with local governments of the Pacific island countries, continuously expand cooperation in various areas, and work together to develop the marine economy and protect the marine ecology.

Yao Ruihua, minister counsellor & chargé d'affaires of Vanuatu to China, said that since the China-Small Island States Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting held in 2017 in Pingtan, China and Pacific island countries has made positive development in ocean cooperation. As a large marine country, China has risen its blue economy and blue development to a national strategy, setting an example for the South Pacific island countries that largely depend on marine resources. Yao also called on all-round cooperation in ecological construction and blue development between all provinces, cities, government departments, and other fellow island countries.

Lai Jun, secretary of the CPC Working Committee of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, extended a warm welcome to the participants. Lai said that Pingtan has hosted the China -Small Island States Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting and Forum on Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development of China-Pacific Island Countries, giving Pingtan more opportunities to exchange and cooperate with Pacific island countries. Pingtan will always maintain friendly cooperation to make new contributions to deepening the "Belt and Road" construction.

The forum also issued the "Initiative on Island Sustainable Development" to advocate the linkage of marine development strategies in various countries, build blue partnerships, and coordinate the implementation of the relevant goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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