Participants at home and abroad discuss issues of maritime safety and call for international exchanges when attending the 24th Session of Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum on Regional Cooperation in Fuzhou, Fujian province, from Tuesday to Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The first regional agreement among heads of maritime agencies in the Asia-Pacific was signed at a forum in Fuzhou, Fujian province, on Thursday.
The Statement on Behalf of the Participants of the 24th Session of Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum on Regional Cooperation emphasized collective efforts to enhance maritime safety, foster practical regional cooperation, promote green and low-carbon development, support shipping transformation and reform, advance maritime gender equality, and strengthen maritime governance cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.
The session, hosted by the maritime safety bureau of the Ministry of Transport from Tuesday to Thursday in Fuzhou, attracted over 80 leaders and representatives from maritime agencies of APHoMSA member countries and regions, as well as observer organizations, to attend.
Fu Xuyin, vice-minister of Ministry of Transport, addresses the 24th Session of Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum on Regional Cooperation in Fuzhou, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Fu Xuyin, vice-minister of the ministry, stressed the need for Asia-Pacific countries and regions to overcome challenges such as geopolitical conflicts and protectionism, urging a commitment to win-win cooperation and the joint promotion of healthy shipping development in the region.
"We should uphold green and safety principles to enhance the region's maritime advantages, embrace reform and innovation to expand the scope of maritime cooperation, and work together to maintain a fair and just shipping order while contributing to the development of global shipping," Fu said.
In a video message, Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, recognized APHoMSA's pivotal role as a regional platform. He called for closer collaboration between Asia-Pacific member institutions and the organization to address the opportunities and challenges posed by issues such as maritime safety, seafarer empowerment, and the decarbonization of shipping.
Participants at home and abroad discuss issues of maritime safety and call for international exchanges when attending the 24th Session of Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum on Regional Cooperation in Fuzhou, Fujian province, from Tuesday to Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The three-day session focused on five key themes: regional cooperation, marine environmental protection, maritime safety, maritime accident emergency response, and the role of women in the maritime sector.
APHoMSA is a cooperative platform for maritime agencies in the Asia-Pacific. Currently, the mechanism has 29 member institutions and nine observer organizations.
Yang Jie contributed to this story.
Participants at home and abroad discuss issues of maritime safety and call for international exchanges when attending the 24th Session of Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum on Regional Cooperation in Fuzhou, Fujian province, from Tuesday to Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Participants at home and abroad discuss issues of maritime safety and call for international exchanges when attending the 24th Session of Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum on Regional Cooperation in Fuzhou, Fujian province, from Tuesday to Thursday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
