Regional institutes vow more marine cooperation

Representatives from fishery- and aquaculture-oriented universities and institutions in China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations vowed to enhance educational and research cooperation in the context of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road at a forum on Wednesday.

The China-ASEAN Fisheries Education Network President Forum, hosted by Ocean University of China in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, was attended by more than 120 experts and scholars.

Sukree Hajisamae, chairman of the ASEAN Fisheries Education Network, or "ASEAN FEN", said the collaboration between China and ASEAN members on fisheries and aquaculture will benefit the whole world, as they are the main global producers of related products.

"China and Southeast Asian countries produce about 60 percent of the world's fish and more than 80 percent of the world's aquacultural products," he said.

"Therefore, China and ASEAN members should work together, through talent exchange and project collaboration, to guarantee the sustainability and security of fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the future."

The "ASEAN FEN" consists of a team of university-based consortia representing the fishery- and aquaculture-oriented institutions mainly within the Southeast Asia region. The Qingdao-based Ocean University of China joined the "ASEAN-FEN+ Members" group last year.

Yu Zhigang, president of the university, suggested that both sides carry out practical cooperation in establishing curricula, talent exchange, technological training, infrastructure and accelerating the process of technological transfer to boost regional economic cooperation.

After the opening ceremony of the forum, Ocean University of China signed a number of agreements with its counterparts from ASEAN member states.

The two-day forum also witnessed the launch of a training course about aquaculture technology for young scientists from ASEAN.