The Chinese Government will put more effort into the scientific
and technological development of its marine economy in the country's
10th Five-Year Plan period (2001-05) and speed up international
cooperation in the industry.
These were conclusions
from a conference on China's marine fishery development, held
in Rongcheng in East China's Shandong Province last week.
Officials from
the Chinese Academy of Engineering and ambassadors and representatives
from coastal countries, such as Germany, Mexico and Venezuela,
participated in the discussions.
China has a large
marine economy, with its sea product output making up a sizeable
share of the world's total. However, the country's offshore
fish stocks are dwindling and the use of science to improve
the industry has been limited compared to other countries.
But China has done
much research in the area, delegates heard. The Chinese Academy
of Engineering, for example, intends to popularize and apply
new technology in the coming five years. This will include
helping to protect fish stocks, said academy Secretary-General
Chang Ping.
To promote international
cooperation of the field, the Symposiums and Exhibition on
Marine Fishery and Aquatic Products Processing Technology
2001 will be held from September 11-13 in Rongcheng.
"The event
will provide a forum for experts and enterprises in the world
to share marine technology and promote international exchanges,"
said Chang.
After visiting
some major fishing companies in Rongcheng on Saturday, the
foreign participants at the conference expressed keen interests
in technology exchanges with China.
Venezuela Ambassador
to China, Juan De Jeues Montilla, said he was impressed with
China's aquatic breeding technology after visiting Shandong
Xunshan Oceanic Science and Technology Co Ltd.
Rongcheng lies
on the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula. Last year the
city's marine economy was worth 16 billion yuan (US$1.93 billion),
accounting for 47 percent of the city's income. It has set
up more than 1,000 joint ventures with more than 30 countries
and regions.
Dong Zhaohe, president
of Shandong Marine Engineering Academy, said the province
has 3,100 kilometers of coastline, the longest of any Chinese
province. Its sea area totals 160,000 square kilometers.
Forty percent of
the country's marine research forces are based in the province.
(China Daily 03/26/2001)
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