On April 20th, China Oceanic Development Foundation and National Institute for South China Sea Studies held the press conference of the first summer camp for national college students on "Close to the South China Sea: Focus on and Explore the Ocean" during the annual meeting of Boao Forum for Asia 2021. Wang Bin, Vice Governor of Hainan Province, Yang Renhuo, Representative of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Wang Haiyu, Standing Committee Member of Sansha Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Sansha City, attended the conference. 15 domestic mainstream media including Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, China Media Group, Hainan Daily, and Sansha TV, as well as more than 100 guests from the South China Sea Theme Sub-forum of Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021, were invited to attend the conference. Pan Xinchun, Deputy President and Secretary-General of China Oceanic Development Foundation, and Wu Shicun, President of National Institute for South China Sea Studies, introduced the purpose, preparation and main contents of the summer camp to the guests and media reporters.

The picture shows the press conference of the first summer camp for national college students on "Close to the South China Sea: Focus on and Explore the Ocean

Pan Xinchun emphasized that the ocean concerns the sovereignty, security, and development interests of China. He believed that Hainan Province has jurisdiction over the most complex sea areas in the world and undertakes heavy tasks such as marine resources development, environmental protection, scientific research, rights and interests maintenance, and scientific cooperation. At the same time, Hainan, as the largest free trade port in China, will need marine talents to perform its duties for future economic, environmental protection, safety, science and technology activities closely related to the ocean. China Oceanic Development Foundation has been committed to mobilizing social forces to understand and manage the ocean, contributing to build a maritime potestatem. China Oceanic Development Foundation will give full play to its advantages, fully utilize the platform resources, and fully support the work of Hainan Province and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, contributing to the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port, especially the maintenance of marine rights and interests, resource development, environmental protection and scientific research.

The picture shows Pan Xinchun, Deputy President and Secretary-General of China Oceanic Development Foundation, giving a speech

Wu Shicun said that the "Close to the South China Sea: Focus on and Explore the Ocean" summer camp for national college students co-sponsored by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and China Oceanic Development Foundation was held to implement the national strategy of "Marine Potestatem" and cultivate talents for marine governance through multiple channels. Taking Japan and South Korea as examples, he introduced the crucial role played by civil forces and social organizations in ocean consciousness. Wu pointed out that global ocean governance has entered a new period of rulemaking, power distribution and order changing at present, and it is critical and urgent for China to accelerate the enhancement of hard power of ocean rights protection and soft power of ocean governance, especially to cultivate and preserve various types of high-end marine talents.

The picture shows Wu Shicun, President of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, giving a speech

Gu Yuwei, a student representative from Hainan University, stated in her speech that she would participate in the competition with self-confidence and self-improvement and present the elegant demeanour of contemporary college students, to pursue progress and explore the ocean and participate in the construction of a maritime potestatem with practical actions. Gu Yuwei was full of expectations for this activity, hoping to meet more young friends who are interested in the cause of Marine Potestatem through colorful summer camp activities, to realize their "Ocean Dreams" together, and to contribute to the protection of the motherland's sea frontier.

The picture shows Gu Yuwei, a student representative of Hainan University, giving a speech

At the press conference, Pan Xinchun and Wu Shicun also answered questions from the media and some of the participants on social support for Hainan's development of high-quality marine economy, marine talents cultivation, and cooperation in key projects such as "Ocean Cooperation and Governance Forum" and "Oral Narrative of South China Sea".

The picture shows the media reporter at the site asking questions

It is understood that the "Close to the South China Sea: Focus on and Explore the Ocean" summer camp is open to all national college students (full-time undergraduate and graduate students). Registration for the camp will be started from April 20th to May 20th. In mid-June, the contestants will take part in the "online" preliminary contest, and the top 50 contestants will enter the semi-finals. In mid-July, the finalists will participate in the "online" interview, and the top 30 finalists will enter the finals and be qualified for the camp. In mid-August, the summer camp will be officially started, and 30 campers will attend a series of lectures on marine topics in Haikou, Qionghai, Sanya and other places in Hainan Province and visit fishing ports and villages, maritime departments and research institutions on the spot as well as islands in the South China Sea to experience island life and enjoy the elegant demeanour of the pearl of the South China Sea. In late August, the summer camp will hold the finals, and 30 campers will take part in a competition of short videos on the theme of the ocean and an essay contest on the theme of "The South China Sea and Me". In addition to the prize money, the winner will also be selected into the "Marine Talents Training Program of National Institute for South China Sea Studies".