12A number of concepts are used to define and characterize economies related to the ocean. They include the concept of an ocean economy, blue economy, SBE, regenerative blue economy, and others. See appendix 1.1-1.3 for the different definitions. SBE is a concept applied across multiple fields, such as marine industry, blue finance, marine ecosystems, marine management and governance, and marine value accounting. Various organizations have proposed guidelines and principles for SBE development. They include the WWF’s Principles for a Sustainable Blue Economy (2015) and the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Principles (2018), which were co-developed by the European Commission, WWF and the Prince of Wales’ International Sustainability Unit, and have been hosted by United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) since 2019. In 2023, the G20 also released High-Level Principles on a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Blue Economy29. The term “sustainable blue economy” is more comprehensible to Chinese society than the ambiguous term “blue economy”, which is often used as a synonym for “ocean/marine economy” and only sometimes implies a connection to sustainability. “Sustainable blue economy”, on the other hand, facilitates the communication of priority actions necessary for promoting sustainability. It is therefore strongly recommended to adopt this term for standardization in China, particularly in the context of policy development and industry engagement. 2.1 SBE concept in Chinese policy and planning Since the 1960s, China has experienced five “blue industrial technology revolutions”, which have significantly shaped the country’s marine economic development. In the 1980s, China introduced the concept of the “blue revolution”, aiming to leverage modern science and technology to enhance the quality and quantity of aquatic products from both marine and inland waters. This period saw the frequent use of terms like “blue industry” and “blue economy” in the literature on China’s marine economy, where the blue economy was initially synonymous with the marine economy and industry. A pivotal moment came in April 2009 when then-Chairman Jintao Hu emphasized the importance of developing the marine economy and creating a blue economic zone on the Shandong Peninsula. This initiative was formally approved by the State Council in January 2011, making it part of the national strategy and leading to a clearer distinction between the blue economy and the ocean economy. The blue economy began to be seen as a broader concept, focusing on sustainable development, coordination 29 G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting Annex - Chennai High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-Based Economy https:/ /g7g20-documents.org/ database/document/2023-g20-india-sherpa-track-environment-ministers-ministers-annex-g20-environment-and-climate-ministers-meeting-annex . 30 “Belt and Road Blue Cooperation Initiative”, Ministry of Foreign Affair of China, 2023, https:/ /www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/zy/gb/202405/P020231020384764771189.pdf . 31 CCICED, 2023, “Pathways and Policies of Blue Economy in Supporting Carbon-Neutrality Target” http:/ /en.cciced.net/POLICY/rr/prr/2023/202308/P020230821385172207758.pdf . 32 The Blue Partnership Principles announced by the Chinese delegation at 2022 UN Ocean Conference provides the concept, common collaborative areas and vision of the blue partnership which aims to contribute to the realization of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. https:/ /www.weforum.org/friends-of-ocean-action/sustaina - ble-blue-partnership-cooperation-network/ .between ecological and socio-economic systems, and the integrated development of land and sea. The concept of the blue economy continued to evolve, and the State Oceanic Administration highlighted its essence as sustainable development under the green growth paradigm. The 13th FYP (2016-2020) further reinforced this by advocating for the integration of land and sea strategies, scientific exploration of marine resources, marine ecosystem protection and the development of a strong maritime nation. The international recognition of the blue economy led China to adopt terms like “blue” and “sustainable” more frequently in foreign cooperation, culminating in the proposal of blue partnership diplomacy in 2017. This Blue Partnership initiative aimed at fostering global cooperation to protect marine ecosystem, respond to climate change, tackle marine pollution and promote sustainable resource use. By 2023, the Belt and Road Blue Cooperation Initiative was launched to foster a resilient and inclusive blue economy based on cleaner production, green technology and the circular economy30. Key actions in the initiative include Reports like WWF’s “Reviving China’s Ocean Economy 2022” and the 2023 Special Policy Study by the CCICED31 underscored the broad scope of the SBE, which encompasses traditional and emerging marine-related industries, advocates for carbon neutrality and sustainable practices, and emphasizes circularity, collaboration and resilience. China actively participates in numerous international organizations and conventions related to the ocean and has initiated Blue Partnerships with various countries to foster innovation, integrated management and capacity- building. At the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, China launched 16 Blue Partnership Principles32, emphasizing cooperation in marine ecological conservation, climate change mitigation, pollution reduction and sustainable resource utilization. The establishment of the Sustainable Blue Partnership Cooperation Network further enhances stakeholder collaboration. China’s ratification of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in 2022 demonstrates its commitment to combating illegal fishing and alleviating overfishing pressures. 2.1.1 The administrative framework China’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) serves as the core authority responsible for the blue economy and marine economy, overseeing marine resource development, economic planning and international cooperation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) focuses on ecological protection, pollution prevention and climate change response. Through policy coordination and inter-ministerial collaboration, these two ministries work together with other authorities managing the respective 2. The evolution of the sustainable blue economy narrative in China

Advancing China's Sustainable Blue Economy 2025