On July 16, 2019, Dr. Zhang Chunyu was invited by the Youth Working Group and Division of Asian Studies of Institute of West-Asian and African Studies (China-Africa Institute) to give a presentation themed “Overview of the Marine Economy and China-Africa Marine Economic Cooperation”. The conference was hosted by Professor Li Zhibiao, Director of the Department of African Studies. Professor Wang Lincong, Deputy Director-general of IWAAS and Vice-President of the China-Africa Institute, delivered an opening speech. Experts from the African and Middle East research fields of IWAAS participated in the meeting. Mr. Zhang Tailun of Haowang Guancha Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and relevant staff were also invited to attend the conference.

　　Marine economy and cooperation between China and Africa on it were new topics in the field of African research. After years of accumulation, Dr. Zhang Chunyu had made continuous and in-depth research on the issue.

　　Dr. Zhang first introduced the relevant concepts and knowledge of marine economy to the participants and proposed five characteristics of marine economy: publicity, complex and open, resource-dependent, highly politicized and internationalized, high-risk, capital-intensive and technology-intensive. Then he made a detailed explanation on the conception of China’s marine economy (better the “Blue Economy”). He believed that although China paid attention to the marine economy relatively late, it developed rapidly and the adjustment of industrial structure presented many “new bright spots” including advanced marine aquaculture engineering equipment, the increase of new orders for high-end dissemination and special vessels, marine engineering equipment manufacturing orders ranking top of the world, thriving of marine biomedical industry and so on.

　　At present, there were some new trends in China’s Blue Economic development. First, the layout was further optimized, and three marine economic circles, namely, the northern, eastern and southern Regions, were already formed basically. Second, new achievements had been made in the innovation and application of marine science and technology. For instance, Jiaolong Manned Submersible and remote-controlled deep-sea unmanned submersible had successfully been through the sea trial; major equipment and supporting projects of deep-sea engineering and 3000-meter deep-water semi-submersible drilling platform had passed acceptance; the Antarctic Deep Ice-Core Drilling equipment had also passed its first test. Third, China’s capacity of marine management and public services had been further enhanced. The first national marine economic survey was officially launched, and the marine forecasting area had extended from offshore to oceans over the world and the North and South Poles. Forth, the level of opening up of the Blue Economy continued to lift. Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone were established in succession. The Belt and Road Initiative was successfully implemented.

　　Next, Dr. Zhang Chunyu focused on two representative marine industries: marine equipment engineering and marine finance. He also pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of these industries, and the opportunities and challenges for the future development of China’s Blue Economy. Finally, Dr. Zhang discussed with his own experience about problems and prospects of China-Africa marine economic cooperation by analyzing the specific case of Cape Verde.

　　In his more-than-one-hour presentation, Dr. Zhang Chunyu used detailed data and vivid cases to bring about much knowledge and fresh views, which made the participants have a new understanding of the Blue Economy and gained a lot. The participants discussed and exchanged views put forward by Dr. Zhang Chunyu in his lecture on the development and challenges of China-Africa maritime cooperation. In a warm atmosphere, the conference ended successfully and fruitfully.