On the morning of April 15, Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies（CIBOS） held a symposium on "Current marine situation and issues in China" . Leaders and experts from the Bureau of Marine Rights of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and the China Association of Marine Affairs visited our institute and had intellectual exchange with our teachers and students on the current China’s marine situation. The symposium was chaired by Prof. Yu Minyou, Dean of the Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies（CIBOS）and Deputy Director of the Collaborative Innovation Center for Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights (CICTSMR). Teachers and students from CIBOS, Institute for International Studies and law school of Wuhan University attended the symposium.

（ Yu Minyou）

In his speech, Wang Peigang, Dean of the Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wuhan University, warmly welcomed leaders and experts from afar. Afterwards, Prof.Wang introduced in detail on the development of the humanities discipline of Wuhan University and the outstanding academic contributions made by CIBOS in marine law and protection of marine rights.

（Wang Peigang）

Liang Jinzhe, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Marine Rights of the Central Foreign Affairs Office and Executive Director of the China Association of Marine Affairs, elaborated on the current China's marine dynamics and issues from three aspects. Now, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, our country pushes forward continuously the strategy of “strengthening marine power”, along with the development of offshore construction capability, the growth of China’s diplomatic influence, and the increased soft power of the maritime rights, which all presents favorable aspect for Marine development. However, Liang pointed out that China's marine situation is facing both opportunities and challenges at this stage. Unfavorable factors mainly reflect in the increasing pressure from foreign countries led by U.S. and the increase of the instability in the surrounding area. The pressure of Marine related public opinion is mounting, the residual wave of the South China Sea Arbitration is outstanding, and the irresponsible speculation of “China threat theory” by the foreign media. In the process of specific maritime affairs, safeguarding rights and maintaining stability are in parallel, and actively and prudently deal with maritime threats.

（Liang Jinzhe）

Wang Bin, Deputy Director of the China Association of Marine Affairs and director of the marine disaster reduction center, State Oceanic Administration, stressed the important guiding role of "Xi Jinping’s strategic thoughts on maritime power" in China's maritime industry, and pointed out that future research on marine issues can focus on the following four aspects: " marine economy development", "construction of marine ecological civilization", "international marine governance" and “research on the development of marine science and technology”.

（Wang Bin）

, the senior professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wuhan University, Director of CIBOS and CICTSMR, said that after ten years of development, CIBOS has been selected as the second batch of national high-end think-tank cultivation units, and will strengthen the cooperation with the Bureau of Marine Rights and the China Association of Marine Affairs in the future, and will undertake the research tasks actively, so as to provide strong intellectual support for the development of China's marine industry.

（Hu Dekun）

(Rewritten by Chen Panpan)

(Edited by Fu Shanshan)