On February 3-4, the 5th Sino-Africa Forum on Marine Science and Technology, hosted by the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Africa and Neighboring Island Countries Subcommittee (referred to as the “Africa Subcommittee”) of UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO-IOC), undertaken by the SIO and the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) of Egypt was held in Cairo, Egypt. The theme was “Strengthening Cooperation on Marine Disaster Prevention and Reduction, Promoting Sustainable Development of the Blue Economy”.

Sun Shuxian, member of the Party Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Li Jiabiao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, RAZANANIRINA Henri Délice, Secretary General of the Ministry of Mines and Strategic Resources of Madagascar, Lu Chunsheng, Minister of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the the Arab Republic of Egypt, Amr Zakria Hamouda, Vice Chairman of the IOC and Chairman of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries of Egypt, Chairman Kouadio Affian, Vice Chairmen Susan Elgrabawi and Amr Zakria Hamouda of the African Subcommittee of the IOC, Fang Yinxia, Director of the SIO, Deputy Director Chen Jianfang and other people attended the forum. In addition, more than 50 experts and scholars from relevant institutions and international organizations from multiple African countries such as Egypt, Benin, Zanzibar, Cote d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Cameroon, as well as Chinese marine management departments and research institutions, attended the conference.

At the opening ceremony, Vice Minister Sun Shuxian delivered a speech, praising the blue partnership formed by Chinese and African marine research institutions via solidarity and cooperation, which has injected strong new marine energy into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa. He hoped that both sides can accelerate the construction of the China-Africa Marine Science and Blue Economy Cooperation Center (the “China-Africa Marine Center”), practice the important consensus reached by Chinese and African leaders, implement practical maritime cooperation projects, and build a bright chapter of China-Africa maritime community with a shared future.

At the meeting, Academician Li Jiabiao of the SIO gave a keynote speech on “Digital Deep-sea Typical Habitats Programme”, introducing the United Nations “Decade of Ocean” scientific program launched by the SIO last year. Hamouda, Chairman of the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries of Egypt, gave a keynote speech on “Africa’s Vision for the United Nations Decade of Ocean”, and looked forward to Africa’s participation in the United Nations “Decade of Ocean”. During the meeting, representatives from both China and Africa made academic reports and conducted in-depth discussions on four topics of “ocean forecasting and capacity building”, “marine ecological protection and restoration”, “marine disaster prevention and reduction”, and “cooperation suggestions under the framework of the China-Africa Marine Science and Technology Center”.

At the closing ceremony, Deputy Director Chen Jianfang read out the “Joint Action Plan for Maritime Cooperation between China and African Countries under the Framework of the United Nations “Decade of Ocean” (2024-2026)”, clarifying the key areas of cooperation between the two sides and the actions to be taken.

The Sino-Africa Forum on Marine Science and Technology has been successfully held for four sessions. The fifth forum is the first cooperation between the SIO and the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries of Egypt after the inauguration of the China-Africa Marine Center, which is of great significance for deepening China-Africa marine science cooperation and technological innovation, promoting the sustainable development of the blue economy, and so on. In the future, the China-Africa Marine Center will further implement the tasks in the areas of center construction, scientific and technological cooperation, personnel exchange visits, etc., promote the development and innovation of marine science and technology and talent cultivation in China and Africa, and jointly address the problems and challenges of the ocean.