On June 5, 2024, the 7th International Symposium on Scientific and Legal Aspects of the Continental Shelf and International Seabed Regimes opened in Qingdao. Assistant Foreign Minister Miao Deyu delivered a video speech at the opening ceremony, Vice Minister of Natural Resources Sun Shuxian attended and addressed the ceremony, and responsible officials of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, the International Seabed Authority, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea delivered keynote speeches.

Miao Deyu said, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Convention is an important outcome of the international community's practice of multilateralism and a milestone in global maritime governance, playing an important role in building and improving the global maritime order. At present, world changes unseen in a century are accelerating, bringing many new issues to global maritime governance. President Xi Jinping had the strategic vision to put forward the important concept of building a maritime community with a shared future, which charts the course for global maritime governance and provides China's answer for solving the difficult problems of governance. All parties should stay true to their original aspirations and keep the international maritime rule of law on the right track, uphold justice and maintain a peaceful and tranquil maritime order, and work together to jointly meet new challenges in maritime governance. China is ready to work with all parties to uphold the purposes of the Convention and the spirit of multilateralism, continue to fully support the three main bodies of the Convention in performing their duties, promote Blue Partnership cooperation, provide more maritime public goods to the world, and jointly build a maritime order featuring peace, tranquility and win-win cooperation.

Since its inception in 2010, the International Symposium on Scientific and Legal Aspects of the Continental Shelf and International Seabed Regimes has focused on the new development of the continental shelf and international seabed regimes with discussions conducted from scientific and legal perspectives. The symposium is now in its 7th session and is attended by about 150 participants from domestic and foreign maritime departments, research institutions and universities, among others.