On November 17, 2021, the 21st Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meeting was held in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, both in-person and virtually. The IORA's Rotating Chair Bangladesh, 23 member states, including the United Arab Emirates, India, Australia, South Africa, and France, as well as nine dialogue partners such as China, the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea attended the meeting. Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs Xu Jinghu virtually participated in and addressed the meeting on behalf of China.

Xu Jinghu said that the IORA is an important economic cooperation organization in the Indian Ocean that contributes significantly to the long-term, stable and sustainable development of the region. China always values the IORA's position and role, supports its capacity building and development, and keeps deepening practical cooperation with it and its member states. Solidarity and cooperation is the only way to defeat COVID-19 and achieve post-pandemic recovery. China is committed to making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good. We strive to build a defense line against COVID with the IORA and its member states to boost post-pandemic recovery and promote green, inclusive and sustainable development.

This meeting, under the theme of "Harnessing the Opportunities of the Indian Ocean Sustainably for Inclusive Development", discussed the cooperation in COVID-19 response and economic recovery, the blue economy, climate change, and marine security, and reached broad consensus on further deepening cooperation within the IORA and building a prosperous and stable Indian Ocean rim.