The 2024 Global Ocean Development Forum opens in the Qingdao West Coast New Area on Oct 24, and 30 agreements on key marine projects are signed on-site. [Photo/Qilu Evening News]

The 2024 Global Ocean Development Forum, which was jointly hosted by the Shandong Provincial People's Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources, opened in the Qingdao West Coast New Area on Oct 24.

At the forum, domestic and international participants focused on the theme "Let's sea our futures — promoting blue partnerships for growth and sustainability", aiming to collaborate on ocean cooperation and enhance ocean development.

Wang Yong, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

In his address at the opening ceremony, Wang said that in recent years, China has actively participated in global ocean governance, unleashed the development potential of the ocean economy, stepped up efforts in marine ecological protection, and worked with other countries to maintain ocean peace and stability.

Wang added that the ocean industry is advancing from coastal to deep-sea areas and from light blue to deep blue as science and technology develops. The Chinese government upholds the concept of a "community of shared future" for the oceans and is deepening cooperation with other countries in opening up the ocean economy, while at the same time building an international maritime order. China will make continuous efforts to promote marine ecological protection, enhancing ocean cultural exchanges and mutual learning and jointly creating a new era of harmonious coexistence between people and the ocean.

Lin Wu, Party secretary of Shandong, stated in his speech that in recent years, Shandong has focused on the high-quality development of the ocean economy and made efforts to create a modern center for the development of the ocean economy.

Shandong is willing to work with all parties to jointly promote ocean economic cooperation and build a modern marine industry system. Efforts will also be made to strengthen marine ecological protection and explore new paths for green marine development. Shandong will expand marine humanistic exchanges and form higher-level blue partnerships in a bid to achieve common visions through cooperation and mutual benefit, according to Lin.

During his speech, Wang Guanghua, minister of natural resources, said that China is a maritime power which focuses on the high-quality and green development of the marine economy and emphasizes open cooperation to accelerate its evolution into a maritime power.

Wang expressed his hope that every country can make good use of the forum as a platform to strengthen policy coordination and enhance interest integration. All parties could expand green cooperation to promote harmonious coexistence between people and nature. Efforts should be made to strengthen innovation-driven development, promote the universal application of blue technology, and make greater contributions to improving ocean well-being.

"The Maldives is an island nation, and I am deeply interested in the development of the blue economy," said Ahmed Nazim, deputy speaker of the Parliament of the Maldives. He said that we are at a critical moment in determining the future of the blue economy. "For island nations like the Maldives, the blue economy is not just a policy goal but necessary for our survival. Let us work together to create a prosperous ocean."

"I believe that marine science is very important, and Qingdao plays a significant role in this area," said Vladimir Ryabinin, former executive secretary at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. He believes that the future of marine science and ocean management are intertwined, representing the future of development in the maritime sector. "The Ocean Decade Cooperation Center in Qingdao plays an important role and has immense potential."

During the opening ceremony, the 2024 China Ocean Development Index Report and the Qingdao Initiative were released. Thirty key marine project agreements were signed on-site, with a total investment of 65.6 billion yuan ($9.21 billion).