Prof. Li Huajun, Vice President of Ocean University of China (OUC) met with Mr. Sam Savou, trade commissioner of the Pacific Islands Trade & Investment ( PITI ), and his colleagues at Laoshan Campus on April 24, 2014 to strengthen cooperation in marine-related areas.

In his welcoming speech, Vice President Li gave a brief introduction to OUC, during which he said that OUC is going to promote cooperation with the Pacific islands in such fields as ocean exploration, student exchange, and scientific research, facilitating the sustainable development of marine industry in the Pacific islands.

Mr. Sam Savou said that although the countries in the South Pacific region abound marine resources, they lack the expertise required to form the industrial chain of aquaculture. Since China is experienced in aquaculture, with places such as Qingdao on the Shangdong Peninsula taking the lead, Mr. Sam Savou expressed his willingness to cooperate with OUC and to assist the island nations in the South Pacific region to further develop their marine industries.

During the meeting, Mr. Fan Hongtao, head of the Supporting Office for Blue Growth of the university, suggested that the marine resources in the South Pacific region should be systematically developed in an industrial chain, from exploration, development, and cultivation, to high-end drug manufacturing. Ms. Ning Aihua, Dean of the College of International Education, discussed with Mr. Savou issues concerning students from the South Pacific region studying at OUC, and expressed her intention to deepen the understanding between both parties by communication to further promote the cooperation between China, on the one hand, and universities and research institutes in the South Pacific, on the other.

Present at the meeting were also representatives from the International Office, the Graduate School, the College of Physical and Environmental Oceanography, and the College of Marine Geosciences.