Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the 26th biweekly consultation session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing on Nov 26, 2024.  [Photo by Jiang Guidong/CPPCC Daily]

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its biweekly consultation session on Nov 26 to discuss promoting high-quality development of the marine economy.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the session.

Wang said that the CPC Central Committee has made building China into a marine power a vital part of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and a major strategic task for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, adhering to a path of development characterized by leveraging the sea for economic prosperity, building a strong country through maritime resources and promoting harmony between humans and the ocean. 

Noting that building China into a marine power is a major task of Chinese modernization, Wang said that an advanced marine economy is a key part of that drive, offering unlimited opportunities. There should be a focus on strategic and forward-looking issues related to building a maritime power, with particular attention to the practical challenges of developing new quality productive forces in the marine sector.

He called for research, discussions and suggestions to support the development of the marine economy and modern marine industries, and to help achieve high-level self-reliance and strength in marine science and technology.

Wang further stressed the need to promote the implementation of systemic and institutional reforms, addressing new issues and challenges through proposals, surveys, public opinion solicitation and engagement with various participating groups, as well as offering suggestions for improving work in this area.

He emphasized the importance of creating a favorable international environment for the development of a high-quality marine economy through enhanced international cooperation..

Eleven CPPCC National Committee members and two experts delivered speeches at the session. Highlighting the importance of research in key issues in this field, they called for improving institutional mechanisms, optimizing the spatial layout of marine industries, fostering marine technology innovation, strengthening efficient use of marine resources and protecting the marine environment, as well as accelerating the establishment of a modern marine industrial system.

CPPCC National Committee vice-chairpersons Shi Taifeng, Hu Chunhua, Chen Wu, Wang Dongfeng, Jiang Zuojun, He Baoxiang, Zhu Yongxin and Yang Zhen attended the meeting, while officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Natural Resources gave briefings on related work and held discussions with attending CPPCC members.