On June 16, the International Training on Marine Environment and Three-Dimensional Disasters Monitoring Capacity for Small Island Developing States (SIDS2025), sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by the SIO, was launched in Hangzhou. Twenty-two participants from eight countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, the Cook Islands, Maldives, Mauritius, Fiji, Samoa, Ghana, and others, arrived in Hangzhou to begin their training.

This marks the first training program hosted by the SIO since obtaining foreign aid training qualifications from the Ministry of Commerce. Representatives from the Cook Islands and Ghana expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for providing this training opportunity. They noted that small island developing states (SIDS) face severe challenges posed by climate change. This training program aims to enhance the capacity of participants from island nations in marine environment and disaster stereoscopic monitoring, enabling them to better address climate related challenges and protect fragile marine ecosystems.

Over the 15-day training period, experts from multiple domestic institutions, including Zhejiang Normal University, the Island Research Center, MNR, P.R.C, Liaocheng University, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., and the SIO, will deliver lectures. The course covers a wide range of topics, including an introduction to China’s national conditions, marine environment monitoring and disaster warning, remote sensing technology applications, and ecological conservation. A blended approach combining theoretical instruction, case studies, and field visits will be adopted to help participants gain insights into Chinese culture, master advanced marine environment and disaster monitoring technologies, and enhance their practical operational skills. Additionally, the program aims to further deepen cooperation between China and island nations in the marine sector, jointly improving capabilities to address climate change and marine environmental issues.