China is making waves in maritime governance and ocean sustainability through innovative initiatives like the Blue Circle program. Launched in 2020 by the Department of Ecology and Environment in east China’s Zhejiang Province and Zhejiang Lanjing Technology Co., Ltd., Blue Circle is China’s largest marine plastic recycling program.
Utilizing blockchain technology and the Internet of Things, Blue Circle monitors the entire life cycle of plastic pollution, from collection to recycling and resale. In 2023, it received the United Nations’ Champions of the Earth award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category for its efforts to tackle marine plastic pollution. This award is the UN’s highest environmental honor, highlighting China’s commitment to environmental protection.
China’s contributions to combating marine environmental pollution demonstrate its role in advancing global ocean governance. As Chinese President Xi Jinping once said, “The blue planet humans inhabit is connected by the oceans to form a community with a shared future, where people of all countries share weal and woe.” In 2019, he proposed the vision of building a maritime community with a shared future to address common threats and challenges at sea.
China has been an active participant in global maritime governance, collaborating with the United Nations and regional organizations. It was among the first countries to sign the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 and has since implemented laws to protect the marine environment and resources. Moreover, China has engaged in extensive marine scientific research cooperation, establishing joint research centers and assisting other countries in exploring marine science.
Guided by the vision of a shared future, China promotes sustainable marine development and fosters the “blue economy” through deeper maritime economic cooperation. Over the past decade, China has signed maritime cooperation agreements with more than 50 Belt and Road Initiative partner countries and international organizations. For instance, the China-aided seawater desalination plant in Pakistan’s Gwadar district will provide potable water to tens of thousands of residents.
China has also established “blue partnerships” with countries like Portugal, Seychelles, and Mozambique, focusing on cooperation in the “blue economy” and marine technology. By expanding maritime practical cooperation and fully tapping into the ocean’s potential, China aims to turn the ocean into an inexhaustible source of sustainable development for all. As Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated, “By expanding maritime practical cooperation and fully tapping into the ocean’s potential, we can turn the ocean into an inexhaustible source of sustainable development for all.”
