The Marine Economy and Urban Development--Coastal and Port Cooperation Forum was jointly held by 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and Fuzhou Municipal People's Government on May 18, 2019, in Fuzhou. Nearly 150 delegates from 16 countries attended the forum.

In the opening ceremony, Mr. Wang Ning, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, stressed that relying on ocean and ports, the construction of Maritime Fuzhou will be advanced. Fuzhou government will continuously support the Committee and carry out exchanges and cooperation with port cities and organizations across the world. UCLG ASPAC Co-President Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC and President of the Committee, called for the cooperation among countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific and along the Maritime Silk Road to protect marine environment. UCLG ASPAC Co-President and Dhulikel Municipality Mayor Mr. Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha stated that "we are happy of this opportunity to join this forum where we can discuss and strengthen our cooperation at the local level." Mr. Jin Xin, Director of China Center for Contemporary World Studies, International Department of the CPC Central Committee, noted that the Committee has created a new platform to cooperate with other countries and helped to gather coastal resources. Mr. Liu Peng, Deputy Director of Waterway Transport Bureau, Ministry of Transport of the P.R.C., proposed to build smart and green ports and integrate port, industry and city. 

　　Opening speech by Mr. Wang Ning, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee

During the keynote speech session, Mr. You Mengjun, Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and President of the Committee, presented that Fuzhou is making fully effort to build an international deep-water port, cluster harbor industries in the port, improve the utilization of marine resources, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. According to Mr. Liu Jian, Deputy Director of the Expert Committee of Silk Road Planning Research Center, the port is an important infrastructure to advance the connectivity of the Belt and Road. Surabaya Vice Mayor Whisnu Sakti Buana expressed that "development does not only consider present needs, but also the future one." Prof. Li Zhenfu from Dalian Maritime University expounded new ideas on developing marine economy from the perspectives of the Belt and Road Initiative, key cities and ports along the route, and how to achieve cooperation. Mr. Alfred Sim, Vice President of Hinterland (PSA), looked forward to the opening of a new international land-sea trade corridor.

　　Keynote speech by Mr. You Mengjun, Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government

In the promotion session, Mr. Wang Dunxing, Vice General Manager of Fuzhou Port Group Co., Ltd, introduced that the Jiangyin Port of Fuzhou has opened 9 shipping routes along the Belt and Road, and the Group will continuously deepen international cooperation. During the dialogue session, the guests exchanged views on "Port Economy and Urban Development" and "International Cooperation and Prospects for Ports". Mombasa Deputy Governor William Kazungu Kingi hoped to open more routes to make the port development diversified. Dunkirk Deputy Mayor Jean-Yves Fremont said that the port city should develop in a comprehensive way by integrating city, industry, finance and port. Mr. Feng Honghao, Deputy Mayor of Haikou Municipal People's Government, hoped that domestic port cities will cooperate with countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road in marine economy and port development. Mr. Maung Maung Soe, Mayor of Yangon, expected that maritime trade and seaport construction will be promoted to develop marine economy.  

           Moderator: Mr. Hang Dong, Deputy Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government 

　　and Secretary General of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee

Ms. Wang Xiaohui, Chief Engineer of China's National Marine Data and Information Service, suggested building the industrial alliance and the "Ocean Center City" to achieve common prosperity. Mr. James Palmer, Chief Executive Officer of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, looked forward to more cooperation opportunities in new energy, biofuels, environmental technologies and other fields. Mr. Jing Guifei, Dean of the School of Beidou and the Silk Road, Beihang University, hoped to strengthen the cooperation of navigation technology application in port development. Ms. Joanna Zheng, Executive Director of Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd. noted that marine insurance expertise and global resources will be used to serve the terminal industry.

In her closing speech, Dr. Bernadia, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, stressed the importance of developing a blue economy and the role of ports in economic development. She hoped that local governments will make more efforts to protect marine environment and marine resources.