Qingdao, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : The Maritime Cooperation and Development Forum 2026 officially opened on September 17 in Qingdao, located in eastern China’s Shandong province. The event featured a speech by Hu Chunhua, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
In his address, Hu emphasized the significant importance President Xi Jinping places on maritime affairs. He noted that this focus has continuously generated new opportunities for the development of China’s maritime economy. President Xi has introduced the crucial concept of building a shared future for maritime communities and has presented proposals for global ocean governance.
Hu highlighted that in recent years, China has consistently strengthened international cooperation in the maritime sector. He affirmed the country’s commitment to promoting the prosperity of the maritime economy and achieving sustainable development in collaboration with all nations. He stated that the ocean is a vital strategic area for high-quality development.
He further explained that China aims to uphold the concept of a shared future for maritime communities. The country is prepared to work with others to create a modern maritime industry system, foster joint innovation in marine science and technology, enhance marine ecology and environmental protection, promote cultural exchanges, and maintain peace and stability in maritime regions. The goal is to elevate maritime development to a new level and ensure that people globally benefit from it.
On the same day, the China National Marine Information Center and the China Marine Development Research Institute released the “China Marine Development Index Report 2026.” According to the report, China’s marine development index reached 132.3 in 2025, representing a 2.5% increase from 2024. This indicates a steady progression in high-quality maritime economic development and new achievements in building a maritime power.
The marine development index quantitatively assesses six aspects of China’s maritime sector over a specific period, including economic and social life, scientific and technological innovation, ecological environment, resource utilization, openness, and overall management. The base year for this index is 2015, which was set at 100.
The report highlights that the development of the maritime economy remains stable, contributing to an improved standard of living. The economic and social life index was 133.1 in 2025, a 2.9% increase from the previous year. China’s total marine gross product reached 110 trillion yuan, up by 5.5% from 2024. There has been significant growth in emerging marine industries and marine manufacturing, leading to continuous improvements in industrial structure. Additionally, per capita availability of marine products increased by 0.9 kilograms compared to 2024, enhancing livelihood security.
Moreover, the capacity for scientific and technological innovation in the maritime sector has been consistently increasing. The scientific and technological innovation index stood at 138.5 in 2025, a 2.5% rise from the previous year. Investment in marine science and technology continues to grow, yielding new innovative outcomes.
Significant improvements have also been made in marine ecology and environmental management. The ecological environment index reached 128.3 in 2025, up by 2.8% from 2024. Coastal cities maintain a wastewater treatment rate exceeding 99%, and marine water quality continues to improve. Overall, the condition of marine ecology remains stable, with some areas showing improvement, particularly coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and island ecosystems.
Furthermore, the quality and efficiency of marine resource development and utilization have seen consistent enhancements. The resource utilization index was 132.8 in 2025, a 2.5% increase from 2024. The rise in marine crude oil production contributed approximately 70% to the overall increase in the country’s crude oil output. Marine wind energy production exceeded 100 billion kilowatt-hours, while the daily capacity for seawater desalination increased by 7.7% compared to 2024.
Finally, high-level openness in the maritime sector continues to be promoted. The openness index was 129.2 in 2025, reflecting a 2.5% increase from the previous year. The capacity for overall management in the maritime sector also showed steady improvement, with the management index reaching 128.7, a 2% increase from 2024.
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