Ningbo to host 3 intl marine economy events

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province is set to host three major international events centered around the marine economy from July 17 to 20.

These events include the Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum, the International Marine Economy and Maritime Affairs Forum, and the China (Ningbo) Maritime Economy Expo.

The Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum has been successfully held in Ningbo six times since 2015, garnering significant recognition and praise. This year, the forum will take place at Shangri-La Hotel in Ningbo and will consist of a main forum, a high-level roundtable meeting, four themed forums, and various sideline activities.

Running concurrently with the Maritime Silk Road Port International Cooperation Forum is the International Marine Economy and Maritime Affairs Forum, which is being held for the second time. It will be held at the Ningbo International Conference Center and will feature a main forum, five sub-forums, and two sideline activities.

The third event, the China (Ningbo) Maritime Economy Expo, was postponed to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be held at the Ningbo International Exhibition Center and will span an exhibition area of 22,000 square meters. More than 300 domestic and foreign enterprises related to the maritime industry are expected to participate.

Ningbo has made significant strides in the development of its marine economy in recent years. The gross ocean product (GOP) has experienced remarkable growth, rising from 16 billion yuan ($2.23 billion) in 2002 to 230.7 billion yuan in 2022, with an annual average growth rate of 14.4 percent. This represents 14.7 percent of the city's regional GDP and 21 percent of Zhejiang's marine economy's added value.

Building on this success, the Ningbo municipal government has revealed a comprehensive five-year development plan for the marine economy. The city aspires to elevate its GOP to over 320 billion yuan by 2025, positioning itself as a global marine economy hub.