The 2015 Qingdao International Ocean Summit Forum was held recently in the east port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province. [sdchina.com]

The 2015 Qingdao International Ocean Summit Forum was held recently in the east port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province.

China released at the forum its annual ocean development index (ODI) report, which showed that the annual average growth rate of China's marine economy from 2011 to 2014 was 3.9 percent. The latest ODI from 2014 stands at 116.6, an increase of 3.7 percent from 2013.

The index includes six sub-indices, namely marine industry development, people's livelihood related to marine industry, science and technology innovation, resource exploration, marine environment and ecosystem and marine management.

This year's forum has attracted more than 300 officials and representatives from a dozen countries and international organizations.

The event focuses on the role of marine science and technology in building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which was initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Southeast Asia in 2013.