On July 22, the “China-Africa Marine Governance Training Program,” sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by the Second Institute of Oceanography (SIO), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), was successfully held in Hangzhou. Twenty-five participants from five African countries, Nigeria, Liberia, Mauritius, Gambia, and Egypt, gathered by the scenic West Lake to begin a journey of learning and cultural exchange.
At the opening ceremony, Prof. Fang Yinxia, Director General of SIO, delivered a welcome address, stressing SIO’s long-standing commitment to cooperation with African countries. She noted that in recent years, through platforms such as the China–Africa Center for Marine Science and Blue Economy Cooperation, SIO has carried out extensive collaboration with multiple African nations in marine scientific research, spatial planning, and capacity building. She expressed the hope of working together with African partners to jointly advance the sustainable development of the ocean.
Representatives of the participants, Mr. Omar Jarjue, Chief Hydrogeologist of the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources of Gambia, and Dr. Elsayed Talaat Mohamed Helmy of Egypt’s National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), delivered remarks on behalf of the participants. They noted that the training program combines specialized courses with field-based learning and expressed their expectation to gain valuable insights from China’s successful experience in marine science and ecological governance.
The seven-day training program features lectures and discussions delivered by experts from Zhejiang Normal University, the Party School of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, Zhejiang Ocean University, the Marine Development Strategy Institute of the Ministry of Natural Resources, SIO, and other institutions. Topics include “China’s National Conditions and Ocean Policies,” “Distribution and Ecological Risks of Marine Microplastics,” “Marine Ecological Restoration and Governance,” among others. Participants will also visit Zhoushan to tour the research vessel Dayang and Zhejiang Ocean University, gaining hands-on experience in marine technology, ecological restoration, and low-carbon solutions through integrated theoretical and field-based training.