FIO Delegation Visits Malaysia to Deepen Collaboration on Marine Science and Technology

From June 14 to 17, 2026, a delegation led by Prof. WEI Zexun, Director General of the First Institute of Oceanography (FIO), Ministry of Natural Resources, China, paid a visit to Malaysia. The delegation visited UCSI University and the University of Malaya (UM), and attended the China-Malaysia Marine Science and Technology Cooperation Meeting. In-depth exchanges with Malaysian counterparts were conducted focusing on marine science and technology collaboration, platform development and capacity building.

During the visit to UCSI University, Director General WEI Zexun and Vice-Chancellor Siti Hamisah Binti Tapsir jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Marine Science and Technology Cooperation. The signing ceremony and subsequent discussions were attended by Deputy Vice Chancellors Phang Siew Moi and Mabel Tan Hwee Joo. Both sides held in-depth discussions on future collaboration in areas such as coastal erosion, marine microplastics, the blue economy, and sustainable development, reaching a consensus that the two sides enjoy great potential for cooperation.

Director General WEI Zexun of FIO and Vice-Chancellor Siti Hamisah Binti Tapsir of UCSI University sign the MoU

At the University of Malaya, Director General WEI Zexun held talks with Vice-Chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Kaharudin Dimyati. Both sides acknowledged that the jointly established FIO-UM Joint Center for Marine Science and Technology (JCMST) has yielded remarkable outcomes in marine in-situ observation, air-sea interaction research, ecological environment monitoring, marine microplastic pollution assessment and data and information sharing. The two sides pledged to further strengthen collaboration and continuously enhance the influence of the Joint Centre as a core platform for China-Malaysia marine science and technology cooperation.

Director General WEI Zexun holds talks with Vice-Chancellor Noor Azuan Abu Osman of UM

On June 16, the China-Malaysia Marine Science and Technology Cooperation Meeting was hosted at UM. More than 30 experts attended the event, representing FIO, the Third Institute of Oceanography, MNR, the Fourth Institute of Oceanography, MNR, as well as UM, Universiti Terengganu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UCSI University and the Malaysian Meteorological Department. Director General WEI Zexun and Vice Chancellor Kaharudin Dimyati of UM delivered opening remarks.

In his speech, Director General WEI Zexun reviewed the fruitful outcomes of China-Malaysia marine science and technology cooperation over the past 15 years. He noted that both sides shall focus on priority areas including marine cooperation platform development, marine environmental monitoring and disaster prevention and mitigation, marine ecological conservation, coastal zone restoration, as well as personnel exchange and capacity building. He called for exploring new themes and broadening the scope of cooperation to elevate bilateral marine collaboration to a higher level.

During the meeting, Chinese and Malaysian participants engaged in extensive discussions on five thematic areas: the development of national-level marine cooperation platforms, marine environmental change and disaster prevention and mitigation, marine ecological conservation and technological applications, coastal vulnerability research and protection, alongside the blue economy and sustainable marine development. Multiple targeted cooperation proposals were put forward, and meeting minutes were formulated accordingly.

Scene of the China-Malaysia Marine Science and Technology Cooperation Meeting

This visit represents a key step in consolidating and deepening China-Malaysia marine science and technology cooperation, marking a new phase of partnership between FIO and Malaysian universities and research institutions. Looking ahead, FIO will further expand blue partnerships with countries along the Belt and Road, and accelerate the building of an open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and win-win new landscape for marine science and technology cooperation.