On the morning of December 23, 2024, the 4th Training Seminar on Blue Economy Development Capability-building under the Framework of RCEP was launched at the China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), jointly organized by the China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF). The training course aims to address the practical needs of building a maritime community with a shared future and developing blue economy partnerships, while cultivating talent for blue economy development. A total of 72 participants from 14 countries and international organizations attended, including China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The opening ceremony was hosted by Fang Yunyun, Assistant to the President and the Director of the International Training & Management Center, ClRD. Yang Rui, Executive President of CIRD, President of RCEP Research Institute, welcomed the participants on behalf of the organizers and introduced the practical background, significant importance, and pragmatic actions related to capacity-building for blue economy development under the RCEP framework.

Professor Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, gave the first lecture titled "Maritime Cooperation within the South China Sea Region under the Framework of a Maritime Community with a Shared Future". He introduced the connotation of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind in the maritime domain, the international law basis and practice of maritime cooperation, and put forward potential areas for China - ASEAN maritime cooperation in the South China Sea.

The training course invitng experts and scholars from institutions such as the China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF), Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, Province Oceanic Administration of Hainan, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, CIRD-GRANDALL Center of FTP Law Studies, Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Philippine Society for International Security Studies. Topics included South China Sea maritime cooperation under the framework of the maritime community with a shared future, modern marine industry system construction, marine technology, cruise tourism, marine ranching, and fisheries cooperation. The course also featured field research, participant sharing sessions, and thematic forums for discussions and exchanges.

Since 2022, CIRD and CODF have jointly organized four sessions of the Training Seminar on Blue Economy Development Capability-building under the Framework of RCEP, with over 310 participants from RCEP member countries and related international organizations. This initiative has generated broad domestic and international impact. Going forward, CIRD and CODF will establish a regular mechanism for the Training Seminar to cultivate multi-level blue economy talents and contribute to the development of blue economy cooperation.