Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

The whitepaper mentions that the Blue Circle project, a new model of marine plastic waste management initiated by Zhejiang province, won the United Nations' 2023 Champion of the Earth award. How has the promotion and application of this model for marine plastic waste reduction progressed so far? What insights and solutions has China contributed to the protection and governance of the global marine eco-environment? Thank you.

Guo Fang:

Thank you for your recognition of the Blue Circle project. The control and treatment of marine plastic pollution is indeed a global challenge and a public concern. Taizhou, Zhejiang province, has explored and developed a new management model for marine plastic waste. By leveraging big data and blockchain technology, this model has made it possible to simultaneously achieve marine plastic pollution control, high-value recycling and utilization of resources, and prosperity for all fishermen while realizing ecological, social, and economic value. As a result, it stood out among 2,500 applications globally and won the United Nations' 2023 Champion of the Earth award, which is no small feat.

At present, the promotion and application of the Blue Circle are advancing at a fast pace. As far as we know, this model has been extended not only throughout Zhejiang province but also to the Yangtze River Delta region and coastal regions in southeast China. Blue Circle demonstration centers have been set up in Fujian, Shandong and Hainan. This model has gained global recognition and has been promoted and applied in Singapore, France, Germany, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Switzerland. The recycling system now includes not only the original, relatively single category of waste plastic bottles but also fishing nets and gear used for marine aquaculture.

With advanced technical solutions, an innovative operation mode, and high-quality marine recycled plastic products, the Blue Circle model has gained favor with many multinational corporations, industry associations, financial institutions and even overseas government agencies, attracting an increasingly diverse range of participants. Building on this success, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has collaborated with multiple departments to issue the Action Plan for the Cleanup of Marine Litter in Coastal Cities. This plan aims to further advance the recycling and collection of marine litter, providing more materials for projects such as the Blue Circle. We believe that it will play a positive role.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, coastal areas have pioneered innovative practices in marine eco-environment protection and governance. There are outstanding examples, including the Blue Circle you mentioned, the Xiamen Approach, which Mr. Sun presented in detail, and the governance of the Bohai Sea, which I just introduced. We have also achieved landmark accomplishments with recognition, influence, and reputation through the evaluation of excellent cases in the Beautiful Bay initiative. At present, the evaluation of the third batch of cases is underway. Through these efforts, we aim to provide new ideas and paradigms for global maritime governance.

These experiences and explorations belong both to China and to the rest of the world. China is willing to work with all countries to open a new chapter in building a maritime community of shared future, jointly preserve the Blue Homeland on which we rely for our subsistence, and leave a blue sky and clean ocean for future generations. Thank you.

Xing Huina:

Today's briefing is hereby concluded. Thank you to our two speakers and friends from the media. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Wang Yiming, Wang Qian, Gong Yingchun, Ma Yujia, Zhang Rui, Zhou Jing, Zhang Tingting, Wang Ziteng, Zhang Junmian, Liu Caiyi, Xu Kailin, Li Huiru, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Rochelle Beiersdorfer. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.