By Wang Qin

Marine Economy Cooperation Harbors Potential

By Wang Qin

About the author: Prof. Wang Qin is Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University.

The marine economy has undergone rapid growth in China and ASEAN countries over recent years, with development strategies and policies being formulated and implemented to stimulate development and adjust structure.Though still in its early stages, marine economy cooperation between China and ASEAN has great potential and bright prospects.

The marine economy is growing strongly in China, and has become a key sector of the national economy. Its output value reached nearly 6.5 trillion yuan (US$970 billion) last year, accounting for 9.6 percent of China’s GDP. In the field of conventional marine industries, the pace of transformation and upgrading has quickened in recent years. Growth is brisk in such areas as sea water utilization, power generation from ocean energy, marine bio-pharmacy and cruise tourism. What’s more, efforts in marine science and technology have yielded fruitful results, evidenced by the establishment of several marine high-tech industrial bases and pilot areas in China.

ASEAN countries have abundant marine resources, which give them huge marine economy advantages. Indonesia, for instance, is building itself into a marine power through measures such as enhancing awareness among its people, building a “maritime expressway”, increasing connectivity over the sea and boosting the general marine economy. Vietnam has formulated a strategic plan, declaring the goal of building itself into a marine power by 2020.

Over past several years, Chinese and ASEAN leaders have stressed on numerous occasions that marine cooperation is a priority of current and future cooperation. In January 2012, China’s State Oceanic Administration issued the Plan for International Cooperation in the South China Sea and Adjacent Oceans (2011-2015), which was approved by the State Council. In the realm of marine cultural exchanges, the Chinese government has set up a Marine Scholarship to fund postgraduate and doctoral study by foreign applicants. So far it has enrolled 21 students from six ASEAN countries, including Thailand and Indonesia. China has also organized several short-term training sessions that admit 50 people each year. Other programs include the China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences, a strategic marine project sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support from the China-ASEAN Marine Cooperation Fund. Also established is the Thailand-China Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystems, which was inaugurated on June 6, 2013.

In light of new regional and international situations, marine connectivity between China and ASEAN and regional cooperation on marine industries bear profound strategic significance. This author proposes the two sides proceed in the following ways:

First, under the general framework of regional connectivity over the sea, relevant government departments of China and ASEAN countries should work out detailed policies and measures in this aspect, and establish a consultation and negotiation mechanism for connectivity cooperation between them.

Second, the two sides should outline medium- and longterm strategic goals, cooperative fields and major projects for their cooperation on marine industries. Following the principles of cooperation on equal footing, mutual benefit and winwin results, China and ASEAN countries should roll out active cooperation on harbor development, ocean fishing, ocean shipping, offshore oil-gas exploration, harbor-related industries, marine tourism, marine science, marine environmental protection, marine education and cultural exchanges. Efforts must be accelerated to build a marine thoroughfare that will better connect China and ASEAN.

Third, China and ASEAN countries should encourage and support their coastal areas to participate in bilateral cooperation on marine connectivity and marine industries. These regions can choose their cooperative fields and projects according to their respective resources and advantages, establish marine economy cooperation zones and carry out cooperation and exchanges on ocean fishing, ocean shipping, harbor-related industries, coastal tourism, marine science and culture.

Last but not least, China and ASEAN countries must pay proper attention to the security of marine industries and risk prevention. In this regard, they should focus on building a stronger system of security and risk awareness, particularly when it comes to marine resource exploration projects, such as fishing and oil-gas drilling.