China and 12 island countries agreed on Thursday to strengthen cooperation in the blue economy and protect the environment of islands for sustainable development.

China will work with island countries to protect the ocean and implement the U.N. sustainable development goals, said Wang Hong, head of the State Oceanic Administration at the China-Island Countries Ocean-related Ministerial Roundtable.

China hopes to boost practical cooperation with island countries on the Belt and Road Initiative, said Wang at the meeting held Thursday in Pingtan, east China's coastal Fujian Province.

Participating countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Samoa, Cape Verde, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Sao Tome and Principe.

A declaration adopted by the meeting proposed a blue partnership and a cooperation mechanism for developing the blue economy, environmental protection, disaster prevention and oceanic technology.

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