The 8th China-Southeast Asian Countries Marine Cooperation Forum Convened in Jakarta

On November 28, 2024, the 8th China-Southeast Asian Countries Marine Cooperation Forum was convened in Jakarta, Indonesia. The forum was hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China (MNR) and the National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia (BRIN) and organized by the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO) of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, Jenderal Soedirman University, the Ocean Decade International Cooperation Center of China, the Agency for Marine and Fisheries Extension and Human Resource Development of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia. Under the theme of “Strengthen Collaboration on Ocean and Climate to Accelerate Actions for the UN Decade of Ocean Science”, the forum was attended by over 200 participants from more than 70 administrative departments, research institutes and ocean-related enterprises of 9 countries including China and Southeast Asian countries.

SUN Shuxian, Vice Minister of MNR and Director of the State Oceanic Administration, and Laksana Tri Handoko, Chairman of BRIN, attended the forum and delivered remarks. Vice Minister SUN Shuxian pointed out that China was committed to promoting harmony and coexistence between human beings and nature and joining hands to protect the marine ecological environment. As a responsible developing country, China has always acted in the common and long-term interests of mankind, fully responded to the United Nations Ocean Decade Actions and participated in the global ocean governance mechanism under the framework of the United Nations. At the same time, we have jointly shaped and continuously strengthened the mechanism for ocean cooperation in the region, and jointly implemented international cooperation projects such as the protection and restoration of typical marine ecosystems, coastal zone planning and management, monitoring and protection of marine endangered species, comprehensive improvement of coastal wetlands and the Blue Citizen Initiative, as well as the transformation of marine scientific research results into industrial projects. We have also worked with Chinese foundations to implement the “Blue Partnership Action” to help Southeast Asian countries realize marine sustainable development.

At the opening ceremony, Mr. Sun and Mr. Laksana signed a Memorandum of Understanding between MNR and BRIN and inaugurated the Indonesia-China Center for Ocean and Climate (ICCOC). Co-established by MNR and BRIN, ICCOC was operated by FIO and the Research Organization for Earth Sciences and Maritime (ROESM) of BRIN, which will provide scientific support for response to regional climate change and sustainable development through cooperation including joint research, data sharing, technical exchange and capacity building.

The Ocean and Climate Early Warning Universal System (OCEANUS) for the Southeast Asia was launched at the opening ceremony, which is comprised of 4 major subsystems namely the Global Ocean Numerical Forecast System, the Global Early Warning System for Coral Reef Bleaching, the Global Maritime Search and Rescue Forecast System and the Global Oil Spill Forecast System. It will provide accurate and efficient scientific support for integrated ocean management and response to ocean and climate disasters in this region.

The forum consisted of 5 parallel sessions, namely Ocean and Climate Observation, Forecasting and Services, Marine Ecosystem Protection, Biodiversity Conservation and Biotechnology Development, Marine Geological Processes and Disaster Mitigation, Marine Policy and Management, and East Asia Summit Workshop on Developing Coastal Economy and 2 special events, namely Promoting UN Ocean Decade through Regional Cooperation and Empowering Coastal Communities: The Blue Citizen Initiative in Action. Experts from various countries had in-depth discussions on the future development of cooperation on hot issues in related fields and actively shared their practical experiences and research results, with the aim of promoting joint actions in Southeast Asia and improving the ability to protect and utilize the oceans together.

The China-Southeast Asian Countries Marine Cooperation Forum was initiated by China and its neighboring countries in 2013 for marine cooperation. The 8th forum was the first offline after the Covid-19 pandemic which gradually extended its focus from scientific and technological research to transformation from science and technology knowledge to governance solutions. It also positively responded to the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, integrated workshops on coastal economy, and introduced local governments and industries to promote blue economy as part of its core, which has attracted more ocean-related departments, research institutes and NGOs to participate. The convening of the 8th forum highlights the close relationship between China and ASEAN countries in regional maritime cooperation and sets a new model for international cooperation under the framework of the “Ocean Decade”, laying a more solid foundation for the institutionalization of regional governance and cooperation.