The inaugural meeting of Marine Spatial Planning Academy (the Academy) of China Oceanic Development Foundation was held in Tianjin on December 2nd, 2018. More than 150 leaders and experts from relevant research institutions, universities, enterprises and governing units in the field of marine spatial planning in China attended the meeting. The meeting also held an academic seminar on marine spatial planning, at which 10 well-known domestic academicians and experts were invited to make special reports and conduct seminars in groups. Sun Zhihui, President of China Oceanic Development Foundation, Lv Bin, Deputy President, and Pan Xinchun, Secretary-General, attended the meeting. President Sun Zhihui gave a speech at the inaugural meeting and unveiled the plaque for the establishment of the Academy. Deputy President Lv Bin presided over the inaugural meeting. Secretary-General Pan Xinchun read out the list of the Management Committee, the Academy Affairs Committee, the Committee of Experts, and the Specially Appointed Researcher of the Academy, which are established by the Foundation Council.

The picture shows the inaugural meeting scene of the Marine Spatial Planning Academy

President Sun Zhihui said that the establishment of the Academy is an important initiative to implement the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council for establishing a territorial spatial planning system, to adapt to the situation of China's natural resources management reform, and to promote the construction of the Maritime Silk Road. The establishment of the Academy has received positive response and support from relevant institutions and experts in the field of marine spatial planning in China. He pointed out that the marine spatial planning should be done well from four aspects. First, implement the requirements of the natural resources reform and support the construction of the spatial planning system; Second, practice the Belt and Road Initiative and serve the construction of a Marine Potestatem; Third, play the role of social organization and serve the national diplomatic strategy; Fourth, establish a reasonable working mechanism and do a good job in the construction and development of the Academy.

The picture shows President Sun Zhihui unveiling plaque for the Marine Space Planning Academy

The picture shows Deputy President Lv Bin presiding over the inaugural meeting of the Academy

The picture shows Secretary-General Pan Xinchun reading out the list of organizations of the Academy

After the inaugural meeting, the Academy held its first working meeting, which was attended by the Management Committee, the Academy Affairs Committee, liaison officers of member units and members of the Secretariat. Lv Bin, Executive Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the Academy, presided over the meeting. Pan Xinchun, Deputy Director of the Management Committee and President of the Academy, made a work report and put forward ten key tasks. Han Jiaxin, Executive Deputy President of the Academy and Director of the National Ocean Technology Center, explained the drafting of the working rules of the Academy. The meeting reviewed and approved the work report and the working rules of the Academy.

The picture shows the first working meeting scene of the Academy

The picture shows Pan Xinchun, Deputy Director of the Management Committee and President of the Academy, making a work report

Sun Zhihui, Director of the Management Committee of the Academy, made a concluding speech. He said that the Marine Spatial Planning Academy is a think tank team with the most authoritative and outstanding experts in related fields in China, and it is a high-end platform with cross-sectoral, cross-industry and interdisciplinary cooperation. Sun Zhihui put forward four requirements for the future work. First, to further enhance the understanding of the importance of marine spatial planning; Second, to do a solid job in the Marine Spatial Planning Academy; Third, to strengthen cooperation among the member units of the Academy; Fourth, the Secretariat should do a good job of organization, coordination and service.

The picture shows Sun Zhihui, Director of the Management Committee of the Academy, making a concluding speech

The Academy is an open cooperation platform for non-independent legal person, which is composed of domestic enterprises, institutions and social organizations with strong working foundation in the field of marine spatial planning. At present, its members mainly include the First, Second, and Third Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the National Marine Data and Information Service, the National Marine Technology Center, the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, the Island Research Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ocean University of China, Xiamen University, China Communications Water Transportation Planning and Design Institute, CNOOC Research Institute, and Tus-Design Group, etc. The main task of the Academy is to carry out research on the theory, method, standard, and technology of the marine spatial planning, providing technical support for the compilation and system construction of national marine spatial planning; to carry out international cooperation in marine spatial planning and focus on promoting cooperation in the marine spatial planning among countries along the Maritime Silk Road and island states, and undertake foreign technical assistance tasks in the marine spatial planning.

The Management Committee of the Academy is composed of leaders and experts from member units and makes research and decisions on major issues of the Academy; The Academy Affairs Committee is composed of leaders and experts from member units and makes specific decisions and arrangements for the work of the Academy; The Academy employs domestic well-known experts and scholars in spatial planning and related fields to form the Committee of Experts and a Specially Appointed Expert Group to put forward consulting suggestions for the Academy; The Secretariat of the Academy is located in the National Ocean Technology Center and undertakes the daily work of the Academy.