Zhuhai, April 24, 2025 – The Greater Bay Area Marine Development Forum was successfully held today at the Zhuhai International Airshow Center. Serving as the main forum for the 2025 Zhuhai International Marine Intelligent Technology Exhibition (hereinafter referred to as the "2025 Zhuhai Marine Expo"), the event brought together leaders from relevant units including the Guangdong Provincial Department of Natural Resources, the Zhuhai Municipal People's Government, and the Guangdong Ocean Association, along with experts, scholars, representatives from industry associations and exhibitors, and media representatives. They gathered to discuss the frontier trends and innovative pathways for marine economic development.
During the forum, leading domestic and international experts, scholars, and industry leaders in marine science and technology were invited to deliver keynote speeches. Chen Dake, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai); Fabien PACORY, Executive Vice Chairman and Executive Committee Member of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China; Cui Weicheng, Chief Designer of the Jiaolong Manned Submersible; Andrew Lipman, General Manager of Underwater and Mining Operations at the American Bureau of Shipping (China) Co., Ltd., and Sheng Songwei, Director of the Offshore Energy Research Center at the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics including technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and international cooperation.
Fabien Pacory, representing EU industrial and commercial circles, delivered a speech titled "Sustainable Development of the Marine Economy in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from a Global Perspective." He provided a deep analysis of the current status and unique advantages of the Greater Bay Area in marine economic development. Pacory pointed out: "Through the establishment of an innovative policy system, Guangdong Province has achieved remarkable accomplishments in marine science and technology innovation, industrial support, and environmental protection, making Zhuhai and the entire Guangdong Province a benchmark for China's marine economic development." He particularly emphasized that China is actively participating in and promoting the establishment of a new, more open and inclusive global cooperation mechanism for the marine economy, which will bring new development opportunities to countries worldwide.
The speech by Cui Weicheng, Chief Designer of the Jiaolong Manned Submersible, focused on cutting-edge marine technology and sparked a strong response. Speaking on "The Evolution and Strategic Prospects of Deep-sea Submersible Technology," he shared the latest progress in China's deep-diving technology. Cui Weicheng stated: "Deep-sea exploration technology has become a core area of global maritime competition. The successful development and application of the 'Jiaolong' mark China's attainment of an internationally advanced level in this field." He revealed that China is currently developing a new generation of full-ocean-depth manned submersible, which will further enhance the country's deep-sea exploration capabilities and make greater contributions to global marine scientific research.
Andrew Lipman, an authoritative expert in the field of international marine engineering, began his speech with the hot topic of deep-sea mining. Addressing "Deep-sea Mining: The Key Engine for Reshaping the Global Resource Landscape and the Blue Economy Revolution," he provided a detailed analysis of the current state and future trends of the global deep-sea mining industry. Lipman noted: "The development of seabed mineral resources will be a crucial step towards achieving a green circular economy. Although challenges exist in technology and regulation, these challenges will inevitably be overcome through innovation." Additionally, he specifically emphasized that Zhuhai, leveraging its geographical advantages and policy support, has the potential to become a major global base for deep-sea mining technology R&D and equipment manufacturing.
The successful convening of this Greater Bay Area Marine Development Forum not only established a high-end international platform for global marine technology exchange and cooperation but also showcased the strong vitality and enormous potential of the Greater Bay Area in marine economic development. Experts unanimously agreed that under the new global landscape of marine economic development, the Greater Bay Area is ushering in unprecedented opportunities. Zhuhai, as a key city in the Greater Bay Area, will play a leading role in marine scientific and technological innovation and industrial transformation and upgrading, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the sustainable development of the global marine economy.