FIO delegation attends 2nd UN Ocean Decade Regional Conference & 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference

From April 22 to 25, the Second United Nations Ocean Decade Regional Conference in conjunction with the Eleventh WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand. WEI Zexun, Deputy Director General of the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), led a scientific research delegation to attend the Conference during which the FIO delegation had talks with representatives from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand on deepening China-Thailand cooperation in marine science and technology.  

Experts from FIO convened 3 sub-sessions for this conference, namely Ocean Observing Technology and Systems in Indo-Pacific, Deep-sea Exploration and Research in the Western Pacific, and Marine Environmental and Climate Change in the Past. They also delivered reports in sub-sessions in terms of the sediment source to sink process in areas of Asian Continental Margin, the hydrothermal sediments in the southern Okinawa Trough, layout optimization of marine mooring observing array, microplastic pollution in the biota, the blue carbon standardized system of China, coastal eutrophication and regional nutrient criteria, seasonal phytoplankton blooms, China-Indonesia joint investigation, and cooperation, methods, and implementation route of marine spatial planning between China and WESTPAC countries, introduced results and experience of scientific research of FIO and had in-depth discussion with experts from the western pacific region.

Among the Decade Action Workshops, one entitled “Accelerate marine spatial planning in the Western Pacific and its adjacent area” was supported by FIO during which government officials, experts and scholars from China, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia had discussions on key elements and priority areas of the route map of marine spatial planning in the western pacific region. In addition, representatives from the UNESCO/IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate (ODC Center) hosted by FIO delivered an academic report in the sub-session namely “Capacity Building and shared activities and experience of ODC Center in recent years”. Moreover, as a member of the International Steering Committee of this Conference, SUN Chengjun, a researcher from the Marine Bioresource and Environment Research Center of FIO, participated in the preparations for the Conference, selected the best posters, and assisted in the presentation of the WESTPAC Outstanding Scientist Award.

During the conference, Deputy Director General WEI Zexun, had talks with Mr. Pinsak Suraswadi, Director General of DMCR, on deepening collaborations on marine science and technology. WEI Zexun noted that the China-Thailand Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystem, jointly undertaken by FIO and the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) subordinate to DMCR, has been in stable operation for 10 years, becoming a model of bilateral cooperation in this region. He also expressed hopes to continuously deepen cooperation in the future. Director-General Pinsak appreciated the positive contributions made by Chinese scientists to the marine scientific and technological development in the Western Pacific region. He promised to support broader and deeper cooperation under the China-Thailand Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystem.

FIO experts moderate scientific sessions and deliver reports in sub-sessions

FIO experts organize and attend the WESPEC Ocean Decade Action Workshops and Researcher SUN Chengjun presents awards

Group photo of FIO delegation and Thai representatives