The 2023 East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Qingdao Forum was recently held 
in Qingdao West Coast New Area. More than 400 guests from over 30 countries and 
regions around the world including ocean experts, economists, and entrepreneurs 
attended the event online or offline, discussing plans for marine cooperation 
and exploring visions for marine development.

This forum was sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Shandong 
Provincial People's Government, organized by the Department of International 
Cooperation under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Qingdao Municipal 
People's Government, implemented by the Administrative Committee of Qingdao 
West Coast New Area, and supported by Shandong Marine Group Ltd. It consisted 
of 11 activities including one main forum, nine parallel forums and one 
exhibition. One main forum refers to the opening ceremony and the main forum; 
nine parallel forums include the Forum on Marine Ecological Environment 
Protection and Restoration and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Deep Sea 
Protection and Utilization Forum, 2023 International Blue Carbon Forum, Blue 
Partnership Forum, Forum on Marine Brand and Industry Empowerment, 
International Marine Industry Integrated Development Entrepreneurs Forum, Blue 
Young Scientists Forum for International Cooperation, and International Marine 
Cooperation and Governance Forum; one exhibition is the East Asia Marine Expo 
2023. Several events were held concurrently, including the International 
Seminar on the Achievements and Prospects of the Agreement on the Conservation 
and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in Waters beyond National Jurisdiction, as 
well as economic and trade matchmaking activities such as the investment visit 
of European maritime enterprises and the Qingdao visit of China-Japan 
innovative enterprises, according to Oceanic Administration of Shandong 
Province and Qingdao Municipal People's Government.

The East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform is a landmark program for the 
implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. As the main event of the East 
Asia Marine Cooperation Platform, the Qingdao Forum has been successfully held 
for 6 consecutive sessions, releasing a total of 26 heavyweight reports 
(indexes), establishing 9 international cooperation alliances and coordination 
institutions such as the East Asia Port Alliance, and attracting nearly 1,400 
enterprises and institutions from more than 70 countries and regions to 
participate in total. The Qingdao Forum and the East Asia Marine Expo have 
become an influential international marine forum and a well-known marine 
exhibition brand, respectively, being as important platforms for the deep 
integration into China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: Oceanic Administration of Shandong Province and Qingdao Municipal 
People's Government