The Second IORA Blue Economy Core Group Workshop was held in Qingdao during July 13-14, 2016,  jointly sponsored by Chinese and South African Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Indian Ocean Rim Association. It was organized by OUC and South African Council of Anthropology under the support of Qingdao Municipal Government. OUC Vice President Chen Rui chaired the opening ceremony.

IORA Qingdao Workshop was themed on Marine Communication and Financing for Development in the Indian Ocean Region. Over 50 delegates participated in the workshop from 14 IORA members, as well as from China and Egypt, dialogue partners of IORA. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony were Qian Hongshan, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China, Sooklal, Deputy Director-General of South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dahlan, Director of IORA Secretariat, Narnia Muller, Chairman of IORA Blue Economy Core Group, and Sun Lijie, Vice Mayor of Qingdao City.

Discussions and exchanges were made at the workshop by experts and scholars from 14 IORA member countries, Egypt, Ocean University of China, Institute of Development Strategy, State Oceanic Administration, China Institute of International Studies, Center for South Asia and Indian Ocean at Shanghai University of Foreign Business and Economics, and CCCC First Harbor Consultants Co.,LTD. The topics covered Infrastructure and Development Plan of the Marine Economy — Harbor and Shipping, Comparison of Economic Development Modes — How Economic Development Zones Fuel the Foreign Investment and International Trade, Cooperation on Capacity Building — Educational and Technical Training on Marine Economy, China-IORA Cooperation in the Backdrop of Belt and Road Initiative. A number of strategic and innovative proposals were raised for the sustainable development of marine economy and the practical cooperation between China and IORA. Keynote speeches were made respectively by OUC Professors of.Liu Shuguang, Li Jingmei and Li Jian.  

In service of the national foreign affairs and ocean strategy.the Workshop is very significant for Ocean University of China to better exchange ideas and cooperate with IORA member countries so as to make OUC voice more heard in the world marine economy.

It is reported that the Indian Ocean Rim Association was founded in 1997 to better coordinate Indian Ocean states in the international affairs and for better cooperation and exchange in the region. There are currently 21 member states in IORA and China is its dialogue partner. Since May, 2015, the Republic of South Africa assumed the rotation Chair of IORA and convened the First IORA Blue Economy Core Group Workshop in Durban. China and South Africa agreed to have the Second Workshop in Qingdao, the first time to have it in a dialogue partner country outside IORA states.

Qu Jing

Translated By Liang Hong