On 22 September 2020, the opening ceremony of 2020 East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Qingdao Forum and Qingdao International Ocean Week was held in Qingdao City, Shandong Province. The Forum was co-hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and the Shandong Provincial People’s Government and organized by the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government.
 

Mme. Gu Xiulian, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the 10thNational People's Congress of China declared the opening of the forum. Mr. Yu Guoan, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, Mr. Wang Hong, Vice Minister of Natural Resources of China and Head of the State Oceanic Administrationand Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ASEAN China Centre (ACC), attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
 

Vice Minister Wang Hong proposed that East Asian countries should focus on combating climate change and protecting the marine ecological environment, make rational use of resources, develop the blue economy and constantly strengthen mutual understanding and coordination in regional marine affairs to develop marine industry.

Secretary-General Chen Dehai said thatthere is a promising future for marine cooperation between ASEANand China. The two sides should actively explore ways to build a mutually beneficial and win-win blue partnership to promote the building of a maritime community with a shared future and achieve high-quality and sustainable development of the marine economy. 

 Mr. Sophalleth Eang, Deputy Minister of Environment of Cambodia, Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, Mr. Ye Myint Swe, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Myanmar, Mr. Phinij Jarusombat, Former Deputy Prime Ministerof Thailand and President of Thai-Chinese Cultural Relationship Council , Mme. Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive Officer of Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore and other representatives of ASEAN maritime authorities and relevant international organizations delivered video speeches, expressing good will to strengthen practical cooperation and promote the development of the marine economy in East Asia.

At the main forum, the “East Asia Marine Cooperation Research Report (2020)” was officially released andtwenty-four key projects of “Investment Promotion and Expert Recruitment” have been launched in the West Coast New Area of Qingdao. Experts and scholars including Mr. Hou Yunchun, former Deputy Director-General of Development Research Centre ofthe State Council and President ofChina Enterprises Evaluation Association, made keynote speeches on new development pattern andinnovation of maritime science and technology.

With the theme of “Openness and Connectivity for a Smart Future”, the forum consisted of sub-forums, competition and exposition, aiming to further deepen the opening-up and cooperation mechanism, create platforms for connectivity and sharing, and build the East Asian maritime community with a shared future.

Before the opening ceremony, Secretary-General Chen Dehai also visited the venue of 2020 East Asian Ocean Expo with other guests.