During the 2017 UCLG ASPAC Council Meeting and Symposium on “Marine Economy and Urban Development” convened in Fuzhou, the First Standing Committee Meeting was held on November 8, 2017 with the participation of around 200 delegates, including 17 governors and mayors and 66 delegations from 22 countries and regions.

Song Jingwu, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), You Mengjun, Deputy Secretary of CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee and Mayor of Fuzhou, Sutanto Soehodho, Co-President of UCLG ASPAC, Bernadia Tjandradewi, Secretary General of UCLG ASPAC, and Octavi de la Varga, Secretary General of the World Association of Major Metropolises (Metropolis), attended the meeting.

Mr. Song Jingwu said that 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee will build up a platform for practical cooperation and exchanges among cities and regions in the Asia-Pacific region in the fields of marine fisheries cooperation, marine conservation, waterway security and economic cooperation, etc, so as to promote maritime cooperation among local governments of UCLG ASPAC in a practical way. It is hoped that Fuzhou will make full use of the Committee to deepen exchanges with UCLG ASPAC and local governments, and to promote joint development with all regions. Meanwhile, all members of local governments in the Asia-Pacific region are encouraged to actively join the Committee to work hand in hand for a sustainable development.

On behalf of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, Fuzhou Municipal Government and 7.57 million citizens in Fuzhou, You Mengjun warmly welcomed all the guests. Mr. You expressed his hope that the Committee would give full play to its role as a platform under the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. He also expected Fuzhou to gather the development momentum of both land and sea, reinforce marine ecological protection, further people-to-people exchanges, and  thus strengthen the exchange and cooperation among committee members comprehensively. Based on the principle of “Extensive consultation, Joint contribution and Shared benefits”, Fuzhou will work with the world in the fields of port construction, marine industry cooperation, maritime culture exchange and marine ecological protection, as well as in infrastructure construction, industrial integration and exchanges in culture, talent, education and tourism, so as to achieve win-win development.

At the meeting, Bernadia Tjandradewi, Octavi de la Varga, member representatives of 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, representatives of Fuzhou’s sister cities and representatives of UCLG ASPAC respectively made speeches on stage.

Mr. Hang Dong, Deputy Mayor of Fuzhou, announced the list of the first 28 cities and organizations joining 21st-Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, and introduced the Committee's work plan for 2018.