Blue Partnership Forum for the Oceans under the EU-China Blue Partnership for the Oceans - Conference

The signature of the Blue Partnership for the Oceans at the EU-China Summit on 16 July 2018 marked the beginning of a new phase in our strategic ocean relations. This Partnership sets out a comprehensive and holistic framework for our cooperation in the domain of the oceans. Our shared objective is to ensure effective ocean governance for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, including sustainable fisheries and a thriving maritime economy.

This new Blue Partnership Forum for the Oceans will allow the EU and China to bring together stakeholders from both sides, including Member States representatives, the business sector, academia, think-tanks and NGOs, to discuss a number of topics of common interest and identify possible joint actions in these areas. The Forum should provide input to shape future actions under the areas covered by the Ocean Partnership.

9.40- 11.00 Opening Session

• Karmenu VELLA, Member of the European Commission in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
• Hong WANG, Administrator, Ministry of Natural Resources (State Oceanic Administration), People’s Republic of China
• Terhi LEHTONEN, State Secretary for Environment, Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU
• Xinzhong LIU, Deputy-Director-General of Fisheries Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, People’s Republic of China

11.30 -12.30 Stakeholders Panel: Ensuring the sustainable development of the oceans

• Pascal LAMY, Chair, Paris Peace Forum; Chair, EU Oceans Mission Board
• Xinbin LI, Deputy General Manager of Corporate Banking Department, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
• Susan GARDNER, Director of Ecosystems Division, UNEP
• Joerg WUTTKE, President of EU Chamber of Commerce in China
• Dong LIN, General Engineer, Hangzhou LHD Clean Energy Technology Ltd. Co
• Salvatore ARICÒ, Head of the Ocean Science Section, IOC-UNESCO

14:00 – 15:45 Thematic Sessions (parallel) The focused, thematic sessions will explore what actions could be undertaken in different areas under the Ocean Partnership on specific topics. By the end of the session, each group should draw conclusions, including possible concrete actions.

16:15 – 17:15 Reporting-back session (Plenary) Report back from the thematic sessions. The conclusions of each session will be presented in plenary by the rapporteur.

17:15 – 17:45 Closing session What have we learned about possible actions under the EU-China Ocean Partnership? What are the practical steps to take this forward?

• Karmenu VELLA, Member of the European Commission in charge of Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
• Hong WANG, Administrator, Ministry of Natural Resources (State Oceanic Administration), People’s Republic of China
• Joao AGUIAR MACHADO, Director-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, European Commission
• Ming ZHANG, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the EU
• Xinzhong LIU, Deputy-Director-General of Fisheries Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, People’s Republic of China

17.45 End