2026 Xiamen International Ocean Week opens

China News Service, Xiamen, November 5th (Reporters Ruan Yulin and Lin Yongchuan) The 2026 Xiamen International Ocean Week opened in Xiamen, Fujian Province on the 5th. The theme of this year’s Ocean Week is “Working Together to Protect the Deep Blue and Live in Harmony with the Ocean.”

Sun Shuxian, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and Director of the State Oceanic Administration, pointed out that Xiamen International Ocean Week has gone through 21 years and has become an important platform for gathering advanced global concepts and practical wisdom to jointly promote sustainable development of the ocean and build a community with a shared future for the ocean. China is willing to share the fruits of development with developing countries, fill the shortcomings of deep-sea talent, and solve the "capability gap" problem. China will firmly support multilateralism, continue to improve the global deep-sea governance system, solidly promote the construction of contract performance capabilities, and create a new situation of pragmatic and efficient global deep-sea governance.

Wang Jinfu, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, pointed out that we will deeply participate in global ocean governance, promote marine ecological restoration, marine monitoring and early warning, biodiversity protection and other work, and contribute more Fujian wisdom to promote the harmonious and symbiotic development of man and sea.

Former Costa Rica President José María Figueres said that a blue horizon is not a distant dream. With science, innovation and international collaboration, it is within reach. China has the opportunity to lead the way, and Xiamen can help turn this vision into reality.

Gretel Aguilar, Director General of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), pointed out that the ocean is indeed vast, but it is also very fragile. We are willing to join hands with China and all members and partners to protect the ocean and turn ambitions into measurable results.

Vaipo Mataora, permanent secretary of the Cook Islands Ministry of Infrastructure, said small island countries have vast sea areas but small populations and limited technical capabilities. We come to Xiamen willing to learn and share our experiences, and we are willing to build lasting partnerships to jointly protect a healthy and resilient ocean.

At the opening ceremony that day, the Chinese-to-foreign translation search platform for marine ecological environment terms was officially launched, and a number of results including the "APEC Marine Literacy Action Plan" were released. Around the opening ceremony, a special exhibition was set up to experience the "Jiaolong" manned submersible simulation system, as well as the "Tide Rising from Heron Island, Sailing the Deep Blue" special exhibition.