On December 7, the SIO held the African Partner Seminar on the Declaration of the “Digital DEPTH” as the “United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development” Action Plan. Experts from Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Tunisia, Somalia and other countries, as well as international organizations such as the Western Indian Ocean Early Professional Scientist Network participated in the seminar. Mr. Fan Jingsheng, Deputy Director of China Oceanic Affairs Administration, Professor Kouadio Affian, Chairman of the UNESCO - IOC Subcommittee for African and Neighbouring Island Countries, Wang Antao, Director of the Division of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Academician Li Jiabiao of the SIO and Chen Jianfang, Deputy Director of the SIO, delivered speeches.

At the meeting, Mr. Mika Odido, coordinator of the African Subcommittee of IOC, and the representative of the SIO introduced the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap and the Ocean Decade China Action Framework respectively. Researcher Xu Xuewei of the SIO made a report entitled “Joint Design of Digital DEPTH Action Plan under China-Africa Cooperation Framework”, which introduced the definition, objectives, expected results, activities to be carried out in the next three years, organizational framework and other related matters of Digital DEPTH in detail, so that African partners have a deeper understanding of Digital DEPTH. In the joint design and discussion link, African partners expressed their support for Digital DEPTH and their thanks to China, and also raised relevant questions and suggestions. The SIO carefully answered these questions, and also adopted the relevant suggestions.

Digital DEPTH was open to international partners for the first time at this seminar, which shows the good cooperation foundation of the SIO with Africa and the emphasis of the SIO on African partners. Activities such as joint voyages, seminars and training courses to be carried out concerning Digital DEPTH will enhance African partners’ exploration and understanding of the deep sea and help African countries fairly participate in international deep-sea governance.