United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development China Seminar Held — Series Activities of 2021 World Oceans Day, National Ocean Awareness Day, and 50th Anniversary of the Restoration of China's Lawful Seat in the United Nations
On June 8, 2021, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (hereinafter referred to as "the Decade") China Seminar was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province. This activity is one of the activities of World Oceans Day and the National Ocean Awareness Day, and also one of the series activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations.
In 2017, the 72nd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution declaring 2021-2030 as the "Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development", and authorized the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to take the lead in formulating the implementation plan. In 2020, the 75th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations deliberated and adopted the Implementation Plan of the Decade. The Decade was officially launched in January 2021. The vision of the Decade is to build "The Science We Need For The Ocean We Want", aiming to "catalyze transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean". It is an important resolution of the United Nations to promote sustainable marine development and the most important global marine science initiative in the next decade. It will have a far-reaching impact on the development of marine science and global ocean governance.
The mission, vision, and objectives of the Decade are highly consistent with the "maritime community with a shared future", "prospering the sea through science and technology" and "new development concept" advocated by the Chinese government. General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward "building an open and innovative new ecosystem, enabling technology to better enhance human well-being, and enabling China's technology to make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind". Chinese marine scientists and marine workers deeply feel the importance and sense of mission of contributing China's wisdom and strength, actively respond to the initiative of the Decade, and constantly promote the innovation of marine science and technology and marine governance, so as to help realize the sustainable development of the ocean.
In line with the theme of National Ocean Awareness Day of "protecting marine biodiversity, harmonious coexistence between man and nature", this Seminar focused on the scientific frontier and domestic scientific practice of marine comprehensive cognition, scientific and technological innovation, marine ecology and biodiversity protection, marine carbon neutral solution, deep-sea special habitat discovery, and proposed the action objectives and implementation contents of China's participation in the Decade.
As the first home event of China's participation in the Decade, the Seminar was jointly held by the Ministry of Natural Resources (State Oceanic Administration) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and organized by the First Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources (FIO, MNR). The Seminar is divided into the opening ceremony, special report, discussion, and other links. Wang Hong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Hou Zengqian, Deputy Director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ji Binchang, Vice Governor of Shandong Provincial People's Government, and Zhao Haozhi, Mayor of Qingdao Municipal People's Government attended the Seminar and delivered speeches. Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of IOC of UNESCO, congratulated the Seminar by video, appreciated China's active participation in the Decade, and expressed his wish for China to play a greater role in the Decade and promote the organization and implementation of relevant activities. Academicians, well-known experts, and representatives from government departments, industrial circles and public welfare organizations in relevant fields in China have jointly discussed the scientific and international governance issues involved in the Decade, actively publicized the concept and connotation of the Decade, which showed China's in-depth participation in marine cooperation under the framework of the United Nations, and expressed its willingness and contribution to marine scientific and technological innovation and the promotion of marine sustainable development.
The Seminar attracted extensive attention and active participation from the governments and all sectors of society. More than 260 representatives from more than 120 units and institutions from ministries and commissions, local governments, scientific research institutions, universities, enterprises, social organizations, and international organizations attended the large-scale Seminar. The Seminar was broadcast live via Xinhua News Agency and received more than 300,000 views online.