[Academic Forum] South China Sea Sub-Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 was Held

On April 22, South China Sea Sub-forum of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 was held in Boao, which was hosted by the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, co-organized by the China-Southeast Asia South China Sea Research Center, the Boao Forum for Asia Secretariat, and the Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies.

More than 200 experts, scholars and diplomats from more than 50 units attended the conference online or offline.

According to the arrangement of the leading group for the high-end think tanks, the Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies has set up a sub-forum on topic of the South China Sea of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 at Wuhan University.

Professor Kong Lingjie, Deputy Dean of the Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, delivered a speech at the conference on the topic "20th Anniversary of Signing DOC: Retrospect and Prospect". He introduced the process of the "Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" (COC) negotiation and believed that the "Code of Conduct" negotiation has entered a critical stage, and the actual impact of COVID-19 on the "Second Reading" of the "Code of Conduct" text and the negotiation process cannot be underestimated. He suggested that all partiesshould maintain a good momentum of negotiation and take the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as an opportunity to build up confidence, enhance mutual trust, expand consensus and narrow differences, so as to reach a more substantive and efficient "code" as soon as possible.

Associate Professor Lei Xiaolu from the Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies delivered a speech at the conference on the topic "South China Sea Maritime Cooperation from the Perspective of Blue Economy". She analyzed the legal basis and current predicament of maritime cooperation in the South China Sea, and pointed out that blue economy, which advocates utilizing marine resources in a sustainable manner, can provide important ideas for solving maritime cooperation in the South China Sea. In terms of fisheries management cooperation, marine scientific research, and marine environmental protection, all parties concerned should focus on cooperative development and environmental protection, and should not turn maritime cooperation into disputes. The relevant practices of China and other neighboring countries can provide reference for maritime cooperation in the South China Sea. Coastal countries should approach maritime cooperation in the South China Sea with a more open attitude.