Forum on “Marine Economy and ‘Dual Carbon’ Strategy” of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee Held in Fuzhou _ Themed Forums _ 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee

Forum on “Marine Economy and ‘Dual Carbon’ Strategy” of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee Held in Fuzhou

TIME：2023-06-06 11:27

Forum on "Marine Economy and 'Dual Carbon' Strategy" and the Council Meeting of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee was held at Strait International Convention and Exhibition Center in Fuzhou on June 2, 2023. The event was held during the Fuzhou International Fisheries Expo in a combination of online and offline formats. The event was attended by officials and delegates including Ms. Chen Danhong, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wu Xiande, Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government and President of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, Mr. Zhong Weiyun, Counsel Class 1, China Center for Contemporary World Studies, International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Dr. Zhang Haiwen, Director-General of Marine Development Strategy, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Hong Huasheng, Former Vice President of the Standing Committee of Fujian Provincial People's Congress, Chief Scientist of the Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Mr. Cui Xiaojian, Deputy Director-General of National Marine Data Information Center, Ms. Gao Lin, Deputy Director-General of Marine Disaster Reduction Center, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Zong Linhong, Deputy Director-General of Department of European and Asian Affairs, CPAFFC, Ms. Jona Widhagdo Putri, Deputy Secretary of China-Indonesia High-level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism (video message), Mr. Ashok Kumar Byanju Shrestha, President of UCLG ASPAC, Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal, Mr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Office (video message), Mr. Ahmed Zaki Iskandar, Vice President of PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, Tangerang Regent, Indonesia, Ms. Botika Maitinnara, Chairperson of Kiribati Local Government Association, Kiribati.

The event was hosted by 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government, and supported by United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific, Silk Road Think Tank Association, Foreign Affairs Office of Fujian Provincial People’s Government, Fujian Provincial Bureau of Ocean and Fisheries, and Costal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University.

The forum, focusing on marine economic development with the “Dual Carbon” strategy, will bring together attendees to discuss ways to utilize marine resources sustainably, promote the transformation of old and new drivers for blue economy development, bolster the structural upgrading and green transformation of marine industries, and boost the high-quality development of marine economy, in a bid to make the ocean a new economic growth point and an inexhaustible driving force for sustainable development of all countries. The forum will include an opening ceremony, a keynote speech session and a panel discussion session.

At the opening ceremony of the forum, Mr. Wu Xiande, Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and President of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, Ms. Chen Danhong, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Ms. Jona Widhagdo Putri, Deputy Secretary of China-Indonesia High-Level Dialogue Mechanism (online), Byanju, President of UCLG ASPAC and Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal, Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Office (video), Zhong Weiyun, Counsel Class 1, China Center for Contemporary World Studies, International Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech, and the opening ceremony was hosted by Huang Jianxiong, Secretary General of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee.

The keynote speech of the forum was hosted by Mr. Du Weiguang, Deputy Secretary General of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee and Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government. Mr. Huang Jianxiong, Secretary General of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, Member of the Standing Committee and Secretary General of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee; Mr. Cui Xiaojian, Deputy Director-General of National Marine Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China; Mr. Ahmed Zaki Iskandar, Vice President of PEMSEA Network of Local Governments, Tangerang Regent, Indonesia; Mr. Manuel Castillo, Environmental Affairs Officer, Environment and Development Division, U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and Ms. Gao Lin, Deputy Director-General of Marine Disaster Reduction Center, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China, delivered keynote speeches. The panel discussion session was hosted by Mr. Liu Ning, Liu Ning, Programme Officer of Northwest Pacific Action Plan, United Nations Environment Programme. Domestic and foreign guests and experts conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on the "dual carbon" path of marine economic development and the green transformation and practice of blue industry.

Mr. Wu Xiande, Mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government andPresident of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, said in his speech that in recent years, Fuzhou has been implementing President Xi Jinping's thought of ecological civilization and the important concept of building a maritime community with a shared future, actively practicing the "double carbon" strategy and accelerating the construction of a national demonstration zone for maritime economic development. Focusing on marine scientific research, we have set up six joint R&D centers for marine industries to accelerate the creation of a scientific and innovation highland for marine economy. We strengthen marine ecological protection, adhere to integrated and systemic governance of lands and oceans, and actively promote the declaration of the Minjiang River estuary wetlands as a world natural heritage, and will continue to build a beautiful bay. We have vigorously cultivated new industries such as offshore wind power, marine biomedicine, marine information and marine cultural tourism, completed the first carbon sink transaction for marine fisheries in China, and launched the offshore wind turbine with the world's largest single-unit capacity and longest blade. “Green and low-carbon” has become the distinctive color of Fuzhou's marine economic development.

Ms. Jona Widhagdo Putri, Deputy Secretary of China-Indonesia High-level Dialogue Mechanism, said in her speech that the "Two Country, Twin Park" is the result of cooperation promoted by the leaders of China and Indonesia, and is a new model of economic and trade innovation and development between the two countries. China and Indonesia can promote infrastructure construction, industrial cooperation, investment and trade, and business exchanges through the "Two Country, Twin Parks". China has built the Yuanhong Investment Zone in Fuqing, and Indonesia is also building several parks. Both sides should continue to enhance friendly relations and leverage complementary advantages to achieve win-win cooperation. From the Blessed City to the Blessed Park, and to the Blessed “Two Countries, Twin Parks”, they need to join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

“As we gather here to discuss how to make use of the sustainability of marine resources, we need to pay attention to the important message from Mother Nature: climate change knows no borders", said Byanju, President of UCLG ASPAC and Mayor of Dhulikhel Municipality, Nepal, in his speech. Marine sustainable development and marine ecological protection must be a priority for all cities. We, as local governments, need to share good experiences and practices with each other.

Mr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of UNESCO Beijing Office, said that the concept of the "dual carbon" strategy, which pursues promoting sustainable economic growth while reducing carbon emissions, is a beacon of hope in our pursuit for a sustainable future. At UNESCO, we have always been at the forefront of promoting marine scientific research and education, and by deepening our understanding of the oceans, we can inform evidence-based policies and practices that promote sustainability.

Delegates also visited the China-Indonesia “Two Countries, Twin Parks”, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Historic District, and Shipyard Area of China Shipyard Culture Town.

Source: 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee

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Forum on “Marine Economy and ‘Dual Carbon’ Strategy” of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee Held in Fuzhou

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