Qingdao and Pacific Island countries deepen cooperation in marine science and technology education. [Photo/Guanhai News]

Delegations from Pacific Island countries, including the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and Cook Islands, visited Qingdao city of Shandong province on May 11.

The trip was aimed at boosting multilateral cooperation in areas such as offshore fisheries and marine talent development and seeking new opportunities for further exchanges.

In recent years, Qingdao and western Pacific Island countries have strengthened cooperation in sectors such as communication, economic and trade, healthcare, education and training.

An important part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the Pacific Island region has unique geographical advantages as well as marine and fishery resources. Solomon Islands is home to a 1.6-million-square kilometer marine economic zone; Papua New Guinea has tuna resources accounting for about 20 percent of the world's reserves; and Kiribati produces yellowfin tuna, snapper, skipjack tuna and prawns.

Qingdao is currently promoting the development of offshore fisheries in the deep-sea area by leveraging its strengths in marine aquaculture and equipment manufacturing. Qingdao and Pacific Island countries both have huge potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in marine fisheries.

Nestor Ghiro, minister of fisheries and marine resources of the Solomon Islands, expressed his hope to further tighten ties with Qingdao in aspects like shipbuilding.

Shandong Zhonglu Oceanic Fisheries Co Ltd is the first deep-sea fishing enterprise in the Chinese mainland to introduce tuna purse seine fishing vessels. The company has since 2001 been engaged in fishing cooperation and tuna fishing operations in the central and western Pacific regions, mainly with countries such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Kiribati. Its executives said that Pacific Island countries have provided much conveniences for Qingdao's deep-sea fishing industry.

Qingdao and Pacific Island countries have also deepened cooperation in marine science and technology education. There are 16 Kiribati students and two Papua New Guinea students studying at the Ocean University of China. The Institute of Oceanography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has since 2019 been conducting multi-level academic exchanges with the University of Papua New Guinea in the fields of marine biodiversity and development.