3rd China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Development Cooperation opens in Kunming

The third China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Blue Economy Development Cooperation opened in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan province, on Dec 16. 

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

Luo Zhaohui, chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and Wang Ning, secretary of the Communist Party of China Yunnan Provincial Committee, both addressed the event.

In his address, Luo pointed out the three key messages this year's forum intended to convey: Blue, Action and Solidarity. He said that the blue economy has become a high priority in a series of major initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the African Union's Agenda 2063. To develop the blue economy of the Indian Ocean and achieve sustainable development of the region requires concerted and immediate action by all parties, he said. 

China, as a member of the Global South, has always stood in solidarity  with countries in the region, especially the small island developing states (SIDS), through thick and thin, Luo noted. China is willing to work with all parties to continue to mobilize resources, implement and align the GDI with other international maritime initiatives such as the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda, and fully support SIDS in their efforts to achieve more resilient and lasting prosperity, he added.

In his address, Wang said Yunnan is ready to play its role as a hub for win-win development between China and the Indian Ocean region, promote better connectivity, deepen economic and trade exchanges, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges in wider areas, carry out more effective cooperation in poverty reduction, and deepen all-round opening up and cooperation with the Indian Ocean region.

President of the Senate of Barbados Reginald Farley and Vice-President of Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef delivered speeches on behalf of the co-hosts of the forum. They spoke highly of the forum and thanked the CIDCA and the Yunnan government for organizing the forum for the last three years. They said that Barbados and the Maldives are both maritime powers and SIDS and attach great importance to the blue economy and sustainable maritime development. They expressed willingness to strengthen policy coordination and practical cooperation with all parties, promote common development centered on "blue" and turn the Indian Ocean region into a cradle of peace, progress and sustainable development.

In the video message delivered at the forum, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari said that the ocean is the lifeline of all, the path to connectivity and the source of economic development opportunities. The China-proposed GDI shares a common vision with countries in the Indian Ocean region, he said, adding that Pakistan is ready to take urgent actions together with all parties to save marine resources, promote maritime cooperation and ensure the continued development of the region on the basis of peace, progress and sustainability.

Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohammed, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Gerd Müller, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Xu Haoliang, and Deputy Chairperson for the African Union Commission Monique Nsanzabaganwa also delivered video messages at the event.

Vice-Minister of China's Ministry of Natural Resources Sun Shuxian, Deputy Director of China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration Tang Fanglin, High Representative of the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh Khalilur Rahman, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources of the Maldives Ahmed Shiyam, and Federal Minister of Planning Development and Special Initiatives of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal attended panel discussions of the forum.