World Ocean Week in Xiamen helps to find blue economy partnerships

"We must make the best use of the potential of the blue economy, while safeguarding the health of the oceans," Vitorino said in her speech at the forum.

"The agreement entitled 'Blue Partnership' aims at promoting marine cooperation in a wide range of areas, from improving our understanding of the ocean, honoring the international commitment made by both countries, and providing a leading model for global marine governance," she said.

Concrete activities are being planned and agreed, including research personnel exchanges, biodiversity restoration, port cooperation, and technology exchanges related to wave energy equipment and other fields.

The blue economy, the core of which is sustainable marine economic development, has become a key engine for innovation-oriented growth in the world's major maritime countries.

The United Nations has stressed on many occasions the important role of blue growth in achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In 2014, the fourth APEC Ocean Ministerial Meeting adopted the Xiamen Declaration, reaching a consensus on deepening the Asia-Pacific blue economy cooperation.

At the ninth BRICS summit held in Xiamen in September 2017, the blue economy issue was included in the business forum's agenda.

In September, China adopted the Pingtan Declaration and explored the establishment of marine partnerships featuring the blue economy.

More than 200 representatives from over 40 countries attended the forum, 23 of whom gave a keynote speech in all matters related to ocean governing for a blue economy.

Fong Weng-Poorun, senior chief executive of the Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping of Mauritius, said it is the first time that her country had participated in the event.

"The blue economy has become an important pillar for development in many countries. The ocean week in Xiamen brings together many countries at different levels of implementing their blue economy, and we are going to share experiences," she said.

During the one-day forum, officials and scholars discussed issues relating to ocean governance, spanning strategy and policy for a blue economy, and cooperation in fields including technological innovation, disaster prevention and marine debris management.