At the invitation of the National Bureau of Mines and Strategic Industries (OMNIS) of the Ministry of Mines and Strategic Resources of Madagascar, Academician Li Jiabiao, Researcher Tang Yong, etc. from the SIO attended the 2nd China-Madagascar Continental Margin Seminar in Madagascar from May 15 to 20, and handed over the data of China-Madagascar international cooperation voyage to the Malagasy side.

The delegation visited the Ministry of Mines and Strategic Resources of Madagascar (MMRS), the National Bureau of Mines and Strategic Industries (OMNIS), the Institute of Geophysical Observations of Madagascar (IOGA), the Polytechnic Institute of the University of Antananarivo (ESPA), was received by the minister of the Ministry of Mines and Strategic Resources, visited the Oil and Gas Resource Planning Center, Data Management Center and Rock Sample Analysis Center of the OMNIS, and listened to the detailed introduction of the Malagasy side concerning its oil and gas resource exploration and development, marine geological structure research, marine seismic data management, rock sample analysis and other aspects.

The delegation attended the 2nd China-Madagascar Continental Margin Seminar, and Academician Li Jiabiao and Ms. Andry, Director of the OMNIS, delivered speeches. Malagasy geologists and geophysicists introduced the research progress of the geological overview of Madagascar, geophysical survey status, salt basin structure, tectonic evolution of the southern continental margin, etc. Our side made reports on the research of three-dimensional crustal structure of Southwest Indian Ridge, the China-Africa marine science cooperation and China-Malaysia international cooperation voyage under the Belt and Road Initiative. Both sides held heated discussions, our side gained a deep understanding of the current status and needs of marine geoscience research in Madagascar, and both sides were looking forward to the future cooperative research on the continental margin.

During the visit, China and Malaysia held a data handover ceremony for the 2021 China-Malaysia international cooperation voyage. Researcher Tang Yong and Ms. Andry signed the data handover certificate, and Zhang Wei, chargé d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Madagascar, and Mr. Olivier, Minister of the MMRS, delivered speeches. The data handed over this time includes high-quality multi-channel seismic, gravity and magnetic, multi-beam and hydrological data covering the southern continental margin of Madagascar, which is of great value for the study of the tectonic evolution, sedimentary environment, resource potential and continental shelf of the southern continental margin of Madagascar. Minister Olivier expressed his gratitude to the Chinese government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO) for the scientific and technological assistance to Madagascar, and looked forward to further marine scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with the SIO in the future.

The visit of the delegation from the SIO to Malaysia this time is a further exchange of visits following the China-Malaysia international cooperation voyage, the visit of MMRS Minister to China and the signing of an agreement between OMNIS and the SIO, which has comprehensively enhanced the depth of cooperation in marine science and technology with Madagascar (OMNIS), and laid a foundation for the further cooperation in marine science and technology between China and Madagascar.