Participants talk in front of national flags on Sept 17 at the 2026 Global Ocean Development Forum in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Hu Qing/chinadaily.com.cn]

At a high-level forum in Qingdao, Shandong province, officials and experts called for more international cooperation to develop the marine economy, which has emerged as a major driver of global economic recovery and growth.

The 2026 Global Ocean Development Forum was held from Sept 16 to 17 in Qingdao West Coast New Area, bringing together about 680 government representatives from 60 countries and regions, as well as officials from the United Nations, business associations, and marine experts.

The forum focused on the sustainable marine economy, providing a platform for countries at different stages of development to share opportunities and jointly shoulder responsibilities for ocean governance, organizers said.

Sun Shuxian, vice-minister of natural resources and director of the State Oceanic Administration, said that promoting high-quality development in the marine economy and preserving the beauty of nature has grown into an international consensus, adding that developing the marine economy is an inevitable choice to address a sluggish global economic recovery.

International participants pose for a group photo on Sept 17 at the 2026 Global Ocean Development Forum in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo by Hu Qing/chinadaily.com.cn]

The forum also focused on the green development of deep-sea resources and coordinated ecological conservation.

Joao do Carmo Brito Soares, the Cape Verdean minister of transport and the sea, called for cooperation among China, Cape Verde, and other maritime nations on systematic ocean observation. "Sharing data and technologies would enable science-based decision-making regarding resource exploration," the minister said.

During the forum, the Briefing on Global Ocean Economic Development 2026 and the 2026 China Ocean Development Index Report were released.

International participants visit an exhibition showcasing marine development achievements in Shandong province. [Photo by Hu Qing/chinadaily.com.cn]