On March 26, the sub-forum “Blue Economy: New Drivers for Marine Growth and New Future for Ports and Shipping” (hereinafter referred to as the “sub-forum”) of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 was held in Boao. Bateer, Executive Vice Governor of Hainan Province, delivered a keynote speech. Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance and Chairman of the Academic Committee of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), attended and chaired the sub-forum. Zhang Jun, Secretary-General of the Boao Forum for Asia, also attended the event.

In his speech, Bateer noted that the development of the blue economy is showing new features of the times. First, changes in the global landscape have endowed the blue economy with new strategic significance. Second, the wave of technological revolution has injected strong new momentum into the blue economy. Third, the trend toward green transformation has set new coordinates for its development. Bateer said that, with the Hainan Free Trade Port entering formal independent customs operations, a new pattern of opening up at a higher level, across broader fields, and in greater depth has begun to take shape. Hainan will focus on building a source of innovation in deep-sea science and technology, a hub for modern marine industries, and a highland for international marine cooperation. It will also develop a safe and smart shipping and logistics system, with the goal of creating “A Mritime Hainan” anew. To this end, Hainan will accelerate the building of “Three Zones and One Center”: a source of innovation in deep-sea science and technology, a hub for modern marine industries, a highland for international marine cooperation, and an international shipping hub for the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in western China.

Speeches were also delivered and discussions joined by Zhang Feng, Executive Vice President of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited; Wang Xiaoyan, Vice President of China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd. (CIMC); Luo Bixiong, Chief Scientist of Energy China and Board Chairman of China Power Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd. (CPECC); Cai Wenzhou, Board Member of the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA); and Chen Jihong, Distinguished Professor at Shenzhen University and President of the Shenzhen International Maritime Institute. Nearly 100 representatives from relevant government departments, universities, research institutions, enterprises, and the media attended the sub-forum.

Hosted by the Secretariat of the Boao Forum for Asia, the sub-forum “Blue Economy: New Drivers for Marine Growth and New Future for Ports and Shipping” was aimed at exploring pathways for mutual empowerment between emerging marine industries and the port and shipping sector, and at promoting deeper integration between the two in technology, resources, and industrial chains. By focusing on innovation breakthroughs and green transformation, the sub-forum sought to discuss ways to advance regional cooperation and global connectivity, and to contribute to the high-quality and sustainable development of the blue economy.