Minister: China's marine economy grows as ocean industries expand

China has made notable progress in marine development, utilization and conservation, Minister of Natural Resources Guan Zhi'ou said on Thursday.

Speaking at the third Ministers' Corridor interview on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, Guan said the ocean has become a strategic space supporting high-quality development.

China's gross ocean product exceeded 11 trillion yuan (about $1.6 trillion) in 2025, accounting for 7.9% of the country's GDP. Key sectors including shipbuilding and offshore engineering equipment, offshore wind power and marine fisheries rank among the world's largest.

Innovation in the marine sector has also accelerated. Marine drugs independently developed by China now account for 28% of the globally marketed categories, while emerging industries such as marine energy and seawater desalination continue to expand.

China has strictly controlled new land reclamation from the sea, and the retention rate of natural coastlines has remained above 35%. Mangroves now cover 475,000 mu (about 31,700 hectares), maintaining steady growth.

The country has also strengthened protection of key marine ecosystems, including the establishment of the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve in southern China's island province of Hainan, and enhanced conservation and restoration of coral reefs. A number of "blue bays," scenic coastlines and island destinations have become popular sites for visitors.

Scientific and technological capacity in marine exploration has continued to improve. Laoshan Laboratory in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province has begun full operations, the world's largest ocean drilling vessel Meng Xiang has entered service, and the 100,000-tonne Shenhai-1, or Deep Sea No.1 offshore oil and gas platform has been put into operation. China's manned submersibles Jiaolong and Fendouzhe have also carried out coordinated missions, completing the country's first crewed deep-sea dive in the Arctic.

China is among the first parties to the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and has signed blue economy cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries and international organizations, while jointly conducting polar and ocean scientific expeditions with multiple partners.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will step up efforts to promote high-quality development of the marine economy, Guan said.

The country will strengthen innovation-driven growth by launching major national science and technology programs to enhance capabilities in deep-sea observation, exploration and development. It will also improve land-sea coordination to optimize spatial planning for major bays and foster new growth hubs.

China plans to accelerate industrial upgrading by developing emerging sectors such as deep-sea equipment and marine biomedicine. Greater emphasis will also be placed on protecting coastal ecosystems and promoting marine tourism, with activities such as cruise travel and recreational sea fishing expected to gain popularity.

China will continue to expand international cooperation through marine cultural exchanges and joint initiatives to promote a shared future for the oceans, Guan added.