Maritime Economy Boost: China Releases 2026 Sea Development Index at Qingdao Event
Beijing, September 17 – At the opening of the 2026 Maritime Cooperation and Development Forum in Qingdao, officials unveiled the latest “China Marine Development Index Report 2026.” The report shows the 2025 index rising to 132.3, a 2.5% improvement over the previous year, confirming the steady ascent of China’s blue‑economy.
Vice‑Chairman Hu Chunhua, representing the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, reiterated President Xi Jinping’s emphasis on maritime development as a pillar of national strategy. Xi’s notion of a “shared‑future maritime community” and his proposals for reforming global ocean governance were highlighted as guiding principles for the forum.
Hu noted that China has continuously expanded its international maritime cooperation, pledging to work with all nations to enhance the prosperity of the marine economy and achieve sustainable outcomes. He described the ocean as a strategic high‑quality development zone that demands coordinated action.
The index evaluates six dimensions – economic & social living standards, scientific‑technological innovation, ecological environment, resource utilization, openness, and overall management – against a 2015 baseline set at 100. Key takeaways include:
* Gross marine product hitting 110 trillion yuan in 2025, a 5.5% jump. * Per‑capita marine product availability up by 0.9 kg, signaling better livelihood security. * Science‑technology innovation index climbing to 138.5, a 2.5% rise. * Ecological environment index improving to 128.3, with wastewater treatment rates above 99% in coastal cities and stable health of coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and island ecosystems. * Resource utilization index at 132.8, driven by offshore oil production (accounting for roughly 70% of the nation’s total increase) and offshore wind electricity exceeding 1 billion kWh. * Openness index at 129.2 and overall governance index at 128.7, both reflecting modest but consistent gains.
Together, these metrics underscore China’s commitment to a modern, sustainable, and globally integrated maritime sector, aiming to lift the industry to a higher level in the new era and deliver greater benefits to populations worldwide.