On April 23, the main event of the Cross-Strait Marine Culture Exchange Platform, themed “Sailing Together Across Vast Seas for a Promising Future,” opened at the Dalian International Conference Center in Liaoning Province. More than 200 youth representatives, experts, scholars, and people from all walks of life across the Taiwan Strait gathered to explore the historical legacy and significance of naval culture through exhibitions and roundtable dialogues, jointly envisioning a blueprint for cross-strait marine technological innovation and integrated development.
Su Hui, Vice Chairperson of the CPPCC National Committee and Chairperson of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Central Committee; Liu Cigui, Member of the CPPCC Standing Committee and Director of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese; Lin Fengzheng, Former Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang; and Xiong Maoping, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Dalian Municipal Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Zheng Jianmin, President of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots and Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Central Committee, presided over the ceremony.
The unveiling ceremony marked a new beginning and charted a shared vision for industrial cooperation.
During the opening ceremony, Fu Zhiguan, Standing Committee Member of the CPPCC and Vice Chairman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Central Committee, and Yi Qingtao, Secretary of the CPC Committee of our university, jointly unveiled the plaque for the Cross-Strait Marine Industry Exchange and Cooperation (Liaoning) Base.
In his speech, Yi Qingtao noted that during his inspection tour of Liaoning in January 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping assigned the province a new strategic mission—to take the lead in achieving new breakthroughs in the all-round revitalization of Northeast China in the new era—which has pointed the way for the development of marine undertakings. The establishment of the base at our university by the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Central Committee is a vivid practice of implementing Xi's instructions. In the future, the university will leverage policy support, geographical advantages, and collaborative innovation in industry-university-research integration. Guided by the concept of “One Family Across the Strait,” we will work hand in hand with all parties to paint a grand blueprint for cross-strait marine industry cooperation.
Prior to the opening ceremony, participants visited the special exhibition Keel Amidst the Waves—2025 Cross-Strait Marine Culture Exchange. Marine technology innovations recommended by our university's Innovation and Entrepreneurship School were featured in the exhibition.
Roundtable Dialogue Gathers Wisdom to Explore Development Paths of the Marine Industry
That afternoon, the roundtable dialogue on Cross-Strait Marine Industry Exchange and Cooperation, themed “Integrating Affection, Wisdom, and Development,” was co-hosted by the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Liaoning Provincial Committee and our university. Zhang Jiaji, Standing Committee Member of the National People’s Congress and Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial CPPCC, attended the event. More than 200 participants, including leaders and experts from marine-related universities, faculty and student representatives from our university, and invited guests from the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, were present. The dialogue was chaired by Li Zhijun, Deputy Secretary of our university's Party Committee.
Fu Zhiguan attended the roundtable and delivered a speech. He emphasized that the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Central Committee is committed to building a platform for cross-strait marine cultural exchange, and he called on stakeholders from industry, academia, and research sectors on both sides of the Strait to jointly promote a new chapter of maritime strength through technological innovation and industrial collaboration. He expressed hope that compatriots across the Strait would further enhance exchange and cooperation, using the ocean as a bridge, advancing together toward prosperity, breaking down barriers, and forging consensus, thereby contributing wisdom and strength to the high-quality development of the cross-strait marine economy and the broader endeavor of building a strong maritime nation.
During the roundtable, Lu Kun, Assistant to the President of our university, delivered a keynote speech titled “Transformation and Upgrading of Marine Fisheries and High-Quality Development.” He was joined by Wan Rong, President of Shanghai Ocean University; Lu Yishan, Vice President of Guangdong Ocean University; Lu Jinshu, Vice President of Zhejiang Ocean University; Mu Jun, Vice President of Hainan Tropical Ocean University; Professor Pan Yuchen of Beibu Gulf University; and experts and scholars from Taiwan’s National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. Together, they addressed seven key topics, including AI empowerment in distant-water fisheries, marine ecological protection, and the interconnection of marine energy. Experts and scholars from Ocean University of China, Jimei University, Xiamen University, and the preparatory team of Shenzhen Ocean University also participated in open discussions.
Guest Delegation Gathers Strength to Promote Inter-University Cooperation
On the same day, Fu Zhiguan, Zhang Jiaji, and Cai Rui—Member of the CPPCC National Committee, Director-General of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and Chairman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Liaoning Provincial Committee—led a delegation of over 200 cross-strait guests to visit and conduct a field study at our university. The delegation visited the Northern Marine Data Application Engineering Center, the Modern Aquatic Seedling Breeding Center, and the Marine Power Square to gain in-depth insight into the university’s progress in marine scientific research, talent cultivation, and academic development.
Leaders and experts from marine-related universities, along with responsible officials from the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, accompanied the delegation. Yi Qingtao, Li Zhijun, Lu Kun, and heads of relevant functional departments of our university also participated in the visit.
The successful hosting of this event has not only established a strong platform for cross-strait marine industry exchange and cooperation but also created favorable conditions for our university to deepen collaboration with marine-related universities, research institutions, and enterprises across the Strait. Looking ahead, the university will rely on the Cross-Strait Marine Industry Exchange and Cooperation (Liaoning) Base and align itself with the trajectory of scientific development and national strategic needs. We will enhance original and leading breakthroughs in marine science and technology, continuously expand fields of exchange and cooperation, and innovate cooperation models. In doing so, we aim to contribute more substantially to the prosperity of the cross-strait marine industry and the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, while supporting China's journey toward becoming a maritime power.
Source: United Front Work Department of the CPC Committee, International Exchange & Cooperation Office (Office of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs) , and College of Innovation and Entrepreneurship