The 2nd High-Level Meeting on Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region: A Call for Collective Action was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from November 8 to 9. Yuan Xinhua, Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Huang Qi, Director General of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA), and Taworn Thunjai, Deputy Director General of the National Fisheries Administration of Thailand, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Researcher Zhu Jian of Freshwater Fisheries Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, attended the meeting as a senior expert and representative of the NACA Regional Guidance Center.
The meeting reviewed the achievements made since the first High-Level Meeting and discussed how to advance the transformation of aquaculture in Asia and Pacific region by 2030. Meeting members discussed the Action Guidelines for Aquaculture Transformation in Asia and the Pacific Region, voluntary action plans for countries in Asia and Pacific region in the context of aquaculture transformation, and the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Centre for Aquaculture Innovation and Investment.
At the meeting, Researcher Zhu Jian shared the priority areas and importance of aquaculture innovation in China, and elaborated on the efforts made by FFRC, as a national research institute, NACA Regional Guidance Center and FAO Reference Center, towards the development of aquaculture innovation in China, in the Asia-Pacific region and even in the world.
In addition, in his speech on behalf of the NACA China Regional Guidance Center, Researcher Zhu Jian elaborated on the important contribution of FFRC in supporting international organizations such as FAO and NACA in science and technology, as well as the Chinese government in the field of aquaculture innovation, transformation and upgrading.
More than 60 high-level people attended the meeting, including senior government decision-makers from the Asia-Pacific region, senior officials from FAO and NACA, representatives of NACA Regional Guidance Centers, senior industry experts, private sector business leaders, Development bank and investors, and development partners.
