Participants in five summits - held during the East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform Qingdao Forum last week - explored the potential for future collaboration among countries in the region and the various sectors of their economies.

The East Asian marine summit gathered around 100 scientists and entrepreneurs, to discuss ways to promote development through marine technology-based cooperation.

Speakers from countries - including South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Bangladesh - shared their ideas on marine resource development, environmental protection and innovative marine technology.

Qingdao, now home to at least 30 percent of the country's marine research institutions and 50 percent of its researchers in the field, is planning to promote international marine cooperation and sustainable marine development, according to the organizers.

Meanwhile, about 150 participants at a conference for the federation of ports in East Asia discussed port construction in the 21st century.

Susumu Naruse, secretary-general of the International Association of Ports and Harbors, said East Asia, as the hub of marine transportation, is in even more urgent need of sustainable development.

Zhang Guohua, an official at the State Development and Reform Commission, said at the same event that ports in China must help to serve major strategic planning, including the Yangtze River economic belt and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic delta.

The fair for marine development and investment offered a platform for participants to discuss the building of a common future.

Jiang Qingchun, deputy director of the Shandong department of ocean and fisheries, said the major goal of the East Asia Marine Cooperation Forum is to promote substantial cooperation in marine economy, technology and environmental protection, as well as disaster relief efforts.

"We are planning to build an East Asian organization of marine cooperation and those involved in the marine industry as well as finance and technology are welcome to join us and build a platform to achieve that goal," Jiang said.

The forum for marine economic cooperation and human resources, called Asian Universities: Marine Economic Cooperation and Talents Development Forum, attracted 140 experts and scholars and entrepreneurs. The event was designed to facilitate cooperation between companies and institutions of higher learning in terms of human resources.

At the same event, an advisory committee of 16 senior experts from around the country was established to offer ideas and suggestions for the Qingdao West Coast New Area.

There was also a forum on East Asian art, with its theme being marine culture and artistic cities.

Song Xiewei, a professor of design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, said in the forum that marine resources are an advantage the city enjoys, and urban planners must take better care of those resources and respect nature to maintain long-term development. 

Asian Universities: Marine Economic Cooperation and Talents Development Forum is designed to facilitate cooperation between companies and institutions.Meng Juntao / For China Daily