Joint Statement on Blue Economy Development Cooperation of the China-Indian Ocean Region

Joint Statement on Blue Economy Development Cooperation of the China-Indian Ocean Region

The Second China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (2023) was held from December 7 to 8, 2023 in Kunming, Yunnan province, China. The Forum, themed “Boosting Sustainable Blue Economy to Build Together a Maritime Community with a Shared Future,” witnessed the discussion by all parties concerned on development cooperation of blue economy between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region, an issue of mutual interest. China and all countries represented by high-level delegates agreed to release the Joint Statement on Blue Economy Development Cooperation of the China-Indian Ocean Region.

Focusing on realizing relevant goals laid out in the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and implementing the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), all parties recognized that, in the Indian Ocean region, marine eco-environment protection and blue economy development cooperation have been achieving positive progress, but are facing multiple challenges as well. Moreover, they exchanged views deeply on joint protection and sustainable utilization of the ocean and the development of the blue economy in the region to contribute to growth regionally and globally.

All parties agreed that stepping up marine development cooperation and developing a sustainable blue economy is an important way to jointly tackle threats and challenges and secure development and stability in the region. They expressed concern over the biodiversity loss, climate warming and sea-level rise, frequent marine disasters and their impact on economic and social development faced by the countries in the region. They also underscored that the international community needs to strengthen policy coordination and redouble efforts to provide knowledge and solutions to enhance the health and resilience of the regional marine ecosystems, help all parties build their capacity to withstand and respond to marine disasters, and improve the effectiveness of the countries concerned in benefitting economically from the sustainable use of marine resources, such as fisheries and aquaculture, renewable energy, tourism and shipping.

It is the common aspiration of all parties to develop the marine economy, enhance marine welfare and share the fruits of marine cooperation. All parties appreciated the positive role China’s Global Development Initiative has played in facilitating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). They also expressed their willingness to continue to deepen marine development cooperation in the region, conserve and sustainably utilize the ocean and strengthen the capacity on ocean governance, to achieve a stronger, greener and healthier global development.

All parties agreed to foster an enabling environment for sustainable marine conservation and blue economy development and support the UN in coordinating efforts for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Developed countries and multilateral development organizations were encouraged to better respond to the actual needs of developing countries and provide more financial and technical support to them, especially small island developing states and least developed countries. Meanwhile, all parties expressed readiness to strengthen South-South cooperation as a useful complement to North-South cooperation, advance North-South dialogue, and bolster tripartite and multilateral cooperation.

All parties noted the positive progress made in delivering the outcomes of the first Forum, namely, establishing a China-Indian Ocean Region marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism, building a China-Indian Ocean Region blue economy think tank network, and setting up a China-Africa Cooperation Center on Satellite Remote Sensing Application. They highly commended China for a range of practical cooperation initiatives (attached) it put forward this time. Furthermore, they looked forward to the institutionalization of the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation.

List of Deliverables of The Second China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Cooperation

1.Establish the China-Indian Ocean Region Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Alliance, step up the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Cooperation Mechanism among countries in the Region. Develop an observation and monitoring network for marine dynamics, ecological, geological and climate disasters. Develop a marine disaster warning and prediction system and demonstration application to strengthen marine disasters warning and evaluation.  Offer high-quality public service products in the aim to improve disaster prevention and mitigation in the region.

2.Build and Initiate the China-Indian Ocean Region Blue Economy Think Tank Network, an open and shared academic platform and exchange mechanism in the region. Jointly conduct the measurement and compilation of the Blue Economy Index of the Indian Ocean Rim Region, an effort that injects new vitality into the blue economy cooperation in the region.

3.The China-Africa Cooperation Center on Satellite Remote Sensing Application was inaugurated in Beijing (in July 2023), supporting continuously cooperation in the area of satellite remote sensing application between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region.

4.Push forward the development of China-Africa Marine Science and Blue Economy Cooperation Center and carry out technical cooperation on marine survey, monitoring, forecasting and continental shelf research in Africa. Jointly develop a big data analysis platform and carry out demonstration application. Support the development of marine science and blue economy in African countries in the Indian Ocean region.

5.Carry out 200 "small yet smart" livelihood projects  for countries in the Indian Ocean region, in such areas as poverty reduction and agricultural development, medical and health care, culture and education, climate change response and green development. Carry out continuously the Yunnan Hand in Hand Program. 

6.Launch the Blue Talent Program.In the next three years, China will endeavor to train 20,000 professionals in various fields for countries in the Indian Ocean region, while carrying out 100 special training programs covering green development, climate change response, ocean planning, fishery development,etc.

7.Set up the China-Indian Ocean Region Maritime Cooperation and Training Center and carry out cooperation in the marine field. Implement capacity building and case promotion activities in marine observation and forecasting, marine spatial planning, marine ecological protection and restoration. Launch the Blue Citizen Initiative to improve  countries’ governance capacity of sustainable marine development in the region.

8.Launch the climate information and early warning system project in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). This effort will raise the region’s early warning capacity and the community's resilience against climate disasters.

9.Implement the Capacity Program of Sustainable Fishery Development for countries in the Indian Ocean region, specifically in areas such as aquaculture, aquatic product processing, resource conservation and investigation, etc.

10.Propose a New Energy Indian Ocean Initiative that supports the promotion and application of photovoltaic power generation, hydroelectric power generation, marine renewable energy and electric vehicles in countries in the Indian Ocean region.

List of Deliverables of The Second China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Cooperation

1.Establish the China-Indian Ocean Region Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Alliance, step up the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Cooperation Mechanism among countries in the Region. Develop an observation and monitoring network for marine dynamics, ecological, geological and climate disasters. Develop a marine disaster warning and prediction system and demonstration application to strengthen marine disasters warning and evaluation.  Offer high-quality public service products in the aim to improve disaster prevention and mitigation in the region.

2.Build and Initiate the China-Indian Ocean Region Blue Economy Think Tank Network, an open and shared academic platform and exchange mechanism in the region. Jointly conduct the measurement and compilation of the Blue Economy Index of the Indian Ocean Rim Region, an effort that injects new vitality into the blue economy cooperation in the region.

3.The China-Africa Cooperation Center on Satellite Remote Sensing Application was inaugurated in Beijing (in July 2023), supporting continuously cooperation in the area of satellite remote sensing application between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region.

4.Push forward the development of China-Africa Marine Science and Blue Economy Cooperation Center and carry out technical cooperation on marine survey, monitoring, forecasting and continental shelf research in Africa. Jointly develop a big data analysis platform and carry out demonstration application. Support the development of marine science and blue economy in African countries in the Indian Ocean region.

5.Carry out 200 “small yet smart” livelihood projects  for countries in the Indian Ocean region, in such areas as poverty reduction and agricultural development, medical and health care, culture and education, climate change response and green development. Carry out continuously the Yunnan Hand in Hand Program. 

6.Launch the Blue Talent Program.In the next three years, China will endeavor to train 20,000 professionals in various fields for countries in the Indian Ocean region, while carrying out 100 special training programs covering green development, climate change response, ocean planning, fishery development,etc.

7.Set up the China-Indian Ocean Region Maritime Cooperation and Training Center and carry out cooperation in the marine field. Implement capacity building and case promotion activities in marine observation and forecasting, marine spatial planning, marine ecological protection and restoration. Launch the Blue Citizen Initiative to improve  countries’ governance capacity of sustainable marine development in the region.

8.Launch the climate information and early warning system project in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). This effort will raise the region’s early warning capacity and the community’s resilience against climate disasters.

9.Implement the Capacity Program of Sustainable Fishery Development for countries in the Indian Ocean region, specifically in areas such as aquaculture, aquatic product processing, resource conservation and investigation, etc.

10.Propose a New Energy Indian Ocean Initiative that supports the promotion and application of photovoltaic power generation, hydroelectric power generation, marine renewable energy and electric vehicles in countries in the Indian Ocean region.