Fuzhou Binhai New Town under Construction. Photographed by Chen Nuan

The rising of Fuzhou Binhai New Town, the establishing of five high-level marine-industry public service platforms, and the development of a brand of marine culture with international influence… Fuzhou, endowed with unique natural advantages, is striving to become a greater marine city through ocean-oriented development.

The Ever-Changing Fuzhou Binhai New Town

Designed to be the sub-center of Fuzhou City, Binhai New Town, after four years of construction, has begun to take shape as a modernized new area. This is a solid step that Fuzhou is taking toward becoming a marine city in its true sense.

In August 2015, Fuzhou New Area – the 14th national-level new area – was approved by the State Council. As the most important part of Fuzhou New Area, the construction of Fuzhou Binhai New Town started in February, 2017. Since its groundbreaking, 288 construction projects have been carried out, with a total investment of 280 billion yuan. The average annual growth rate of fixed asset investment has reached 24.3%.

The Headquarters of the Institute of Oceanography Planned to be Set Up in Fuzhou Binhai New Town

On 29 June, Fuzhou Municipal Bureau of Ocean and Fisheries released “The Response on the Proposal No. 211085 at the 5th Session of the 13th Fuzhou Municipal Committee of CPPCC”, which reveals that the headquarters of the Institute of Oceanography would be located in Fuzhou Binhai New Town, and its design has been finished.

In 2019, the establishment of Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography was approved by Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government, with a view to creating a new-style comprehensive research institution that integrates marine technology research and development, industrial incubation and public services. Up to now, fourteen R&D centers have been set up.

This year, Fuzhou has increased financial input, allocating a special fund of 15 million yuan for scientific research to support the construction of Institute of Oceanography. It has also succeeded with efforts in applying for a special fund of 280 million yuan from the central authorities, in order to set up five public service platforms, namely, Technical Innovation Service Platform for High-value and High-quality Utilization of Marine Organisms, Technology Public Services Platform for Marine Biological Medicine and Product Industrialization Development, Public Services Platform for Technological Innovation of Healthy Aquaculture of Marine Organisms and Intensive and Deep Processing, Incubation and Innovation Center for Marine Equipment and Biological Industry in Fujian-Taiwan (Fuzhou) Blue Economy Industrial Park, and Fuzhou Offshore Marine Testing Ground and Integrated Inspection Platform for Marine Observation Equipment, which are located in the Fuzhou University, Fujian Normal University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fujian-Taiwan (Fuzhou) Blue Economy Industrial Park and the Fujian Marine Forecasts.

Creating A Brand of Marine Culture With International Influence

After years of cultivation, China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo has become the third largest special fishery exhibition in the world, and the second largest in the country. The pattern of "Qingdao in the north and Fuzhou in the south" has basically formed. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, Cross-Strait Fisheries Week and China International Seafood & Fisheries Expo will meet new development opportunities. With its large scale and solid influence maintained, Fuzhou will upgrade this event into one with high quality and financial returns, creating a brand of marine culture with international influence.

Source: Fuzhou Evening News