On October 16, the 2025 World Maritime Equipment Conference opened in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Secretary General Shi Zhongjun of the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), was invited to attend the opening ceremony and deliver a speech. Present at the event were dignitaries and diplomatic envoys from various countries, including First Vice President Ouch Borith of the Senate of Cambodia, Third Deputy Speaker Paul Paoro of the Parliament of Vanuatu, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Standing Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy Zhu Yongxin, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People’s Congress Zhou Zuyi, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Governor of Fujian Province Zhao Long, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport Fu Xuyin. Also in attendance were representatives from the business, academic and media sectors of China and countries along the “Belt and Road” initiative.

Shi Zhongjun pointed out that the ocean is the blue engine for sustainable development of both China and ASEAN. In recent years, blue economic cooperation between China and ASEAN has achieved remarkable progress. Both sides have continuously improved the efficient and intensive utilization of marine resources, promoted the structural optimization and green transformation of traditional industries such as marine fisheries, shipbuilding, and offshore oil and gas, and fostered emerging industries including marine bio-medicine, new energy, and equipment manufacturing. As an important starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, Fuzhou is a highly symbolic host city, and the conference will inject new impetus into bilateral blue-economic cooperation.

Under the framework of the conference, the ACC and the Fuzhou Municipal Government jointly held the “2025 ASEAN-China Round-table on Marine Industry Cooperation and Development”. First Vice President of the Senate of Cambodia Ouch Borith, Secretary General Shi Zhongjun, and Vice Governor of Fujian Province Li Xinghu attended the round-table and delivered speeches. 

During the conference, Shi Zhongjun met with First Vice President Ouch Borith and attended Governor Zhao Long’s meeting with Vice President Och Borith and his delegation.