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China to unveil new maritime cooperation initiative at belt and road summit

  • ‘Major plan’ will cover sustainable use of marine resources, biodiversity conservation and climate change, official says
  • Representatives of 130 nations and 30 global organisations will gather in Beijing for the forum that begins on Tuesday

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Beijing will mark 10 years of the Belt and Road Initiative at this week’s forum. Photo: Reuters
Orange WangandLuna Sunin Beijing
China will launch a new international maritime cooperation initiative at this week’s belt and road summit as it seeks to showcase its “blue economy” goals to the world.
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Beijing will mark 10 years of its infrastructure-led global development strategy at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which begins in the Chinese capital on Tuesday.
Representatives of some 130 countries and 30 global organisations – including Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – will take part in the two-day forum. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is also expected to attend.

The forum will include for the first time a session on maritime cooperation on Wednesday, according to Wang Antao, a senior official with China’s natural resources ministry.

Beijing will release its new maritime initiative at the session, Wang told reporters on Monday. He said about 70 foreign delegates were expected to attend that event.

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“After the Covid-19 pandemic, the blue economy has been recognised as a new driving force to revitalise the economy, a new engine for global connectivity and cooperation, and a new growth point for innovation and transformation, which is crucial for China and the belt and road countries,” Wang said.

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