The 2026 Global Ocean Development Forum (also known as the Ocean Cooperation and Development Forum) officially opened in the Qingdao West Coast New Area, Shandong Province. Running from September 16 to 18, the international gathering brings together roughly 680 delegates, including nearly 200 overseas guests and representatives from 12 global ocean organizations.
Jointly organized by the Shandong Provincial People’s Government and China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the summit is themed "From Blue Ocean to the Future: Developing a Sustainable Ocean Economy and Building a Beautiful and Bountiful Ocean Together".
Upgraded Program Structure and Focus Areas
The 2026 forum expanded its operational framework to a "1+1+4+8" model—featuring an opening ceremony, a main forum, a dialogue on marine civilization, four parallel forums, and eight supporting industry events.
Key thematic discussions across the technical sessions cover:
Green Transformation: Strategies for decarbonizing shipping routes, upgrading traditional fishing fleets, and modernizing aquaculture logistics.
Marine Technology & AI: Integrating artificial intelligence into oceanography, real-time fish stock assessment, and automated marine monitoring.
Deep-Sea Industries & Governance: Sustainable resource management, deep-sea exploration standards, and global blue finance mechanisms.
Major Deliverables and Economic Matchmaking
The forum serves as both a policy platform and a practical industry hub. During the three-day event, organizers expect the presentation of more than 50 technical innovation achievements and case studies.
Additionally, the summit sees the official release of key baseline industry reports, including the 2026 China Ocean Development Index and the World Ocean Economy Development Report 2026. Building on previous editions that generated tens of billions of yuan in marine sector joint ventures, this year's supporting events focus on matching international technology providers with commercial marine enterprises.
