The building of the Ocean Decade International Cooperation Center (ODICC) was recently included in the proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan for both Shandong Province and Qingdao Municipality. Co-sponsored by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the Shandong Provincial Government and the Qingdao Municipal Government, the ODICC is China’s sole international cooperation platform that comprehensively participates in and implement the UN Ocean Decade initiative. Underpinned by the platform, Qingdao involves itself deeply in global marine governance, takes active steps to expand partnerships for marine development, and contributes Qingdao’s wisdom and China’s solutions to navigating marine challenges worldwide.

As many as 818 campaigns in total have so far been ratified in accordance with the Ocean Decade Initiative, drawing the participation of more than 80 countries and regions. Among them, 42 campaigns have been hosted by China. It is worth mentioning that Qingdao has spearheaded the implementation of 15 campaigns that span a wide range of fields from ocean climate forecasting, marine ecosystem health to carbon cycling in the Yellow River Delta Wetland. Qingdao has implemented more than one third of the campaigns hosted by China, the highest share in China.

In June 2025, the UN Decade of Ocean Science Coastal Cities Platform Secretariat was officially located in the ODICC. Qingdao is moving faster to pool international ocean-related organizations or institutions in China after Qingdao has accommodated eight branches of international marine organizations in succession, including the UN Ocean Decade Collaborative Center on Ocean-Climate Nexus, the POGO Western Pacific Node Office and the China-PEMSEA Sustainable Coastal Management Cooperation Center.  (Li Xunxiang)