The 4th Annual International Symposium on Boundary and Ocean Studies was grandly opened at Wuhan University on the morning of September 22, 2018. This symposium was organized by Collaborative Innovation Center for Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights, undertaken by Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies(CIBOS), and co-organized by National Institute for South China Sea Studies. More than 60 experts from the United States, Britain, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and China attended the symposium. At the same time, many doctoral students from universities at home and abroad also participated in this activity. The participants conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on issues related to the “Boundary and Ocean Governance and International Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative”. Prof. Yu Minyou, Dean of CIBOS, presided over the opening ceremony.

(The opening ceremony)

(Prof. Yu Minyou)

 Prof. Hu Dekun, Senior Professor of Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wuhan University, Director of Collaborative Innovation Center for Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights, and Honorary Dean of Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies, gave a welcome speech at the opening ceremony. He mentioned that the boundary and ocean issue is a unique research topic. With interdisciplinary characteristics, it is more challenging than other research topics. At the same time, studying the boundary and ocean issues and exploring the path of solving the issue have important academic and practical significance for safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of national borders and oceans and promoting peace, friendship, cooperation and development between each country.

（Prof. Hu Dekun gave a welcome speech at the opening ceremony）

It is reported that the theme of this symposium is “Boundary and Ocean Governance and International Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative”. There are four special subjects, namely “Control and Resolution of Boundary and Ocean Disputes”, “History Issues of Boundary and Ocean”, “Law of the Sea and Polar Issues”, and “Belt and Road Initiative and Boudary and Ocean Issues”, the participants gave keynote speeches on the above four topics and conducted in-depth discussions on relevant issues.

(Rewritten by Wang Xiaiwei)

(Edited by Fu Shanshan)