The 2024 China Ocean Development Index Report is released to the public at the 2024 Global Ocean Development Forum, which opened in the Qingdao West Coast New Area on Oct 24. [Photo/Guanhai News]

The 2024 China Ocean Development Index Report was released to the public at the 2024 Global Ocean Development Forum, which opened in the Qingdao West Coast New Area on Oct 24.

The report indicates that from 2016 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of the China Ocean Development Index was 2.9 percent. In 2023, the index reached 125.3, representing a 3 percent increase from the previous year. The report highlights that China's high-quality development of the ocean has been steadily advancing, and new achievements have been made in its construction into a maritime power.

The China Ocean Development Index is a comprehensive quantitative assessment of China's ocean development level over a specific period.

Shi Suixiang, director of the National Marine Data and Information Service, explained that in 2023, the economic and livelihood index of the China Ocean Development Index was 130.7, a 3.8 percent increase from the previous year. The marine gross domestic product increased by 6 percent from the previous year, indicating rapid recovery in the marine economy.

The report reveals that in 2023, the technological innovation index of the China Ocean Development Index was 128.2, a 3.2 percent increase from the previous year.

"China's marine technology innovation capabilities continue to strengthen," said Shi.

Shi added that the construction of China's marine technology innovation platforms has been continuously progressing, and research institutions have maintained stable investment in technological innovation. The number of research papers, patents granted, and income from technology transfer related to the ocean development sector have shown rapid growth, demonstrating the increasing capabilities of marine technology innovation output.