Marking its third year, the 2025 World Coastal Forum (WCF) was held on the 24th in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, China. Experts from inside and outside China shared experiences in ecological conservation and sustainable development in coastal regions of each country.
The forum opened at 9 a.m. (local time) that day at the Yancheng International Convention and Exhibition Center. The theme is "Beautiful coasts: ecology first, green development." The event, which began with congratulatory remarks by Xu Kunlin, governor of Jiangsu Province, Yang Zhen, vice chair of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Xin Changxing, Jiangsu party secretary, saw representatives from central government agencies and numerous international organizations take the stage to share directions for conserving coastal ecosystems and achieving sustainable development.
The Yellow Sea wetlands along the Yancheng coast are China's first coastal wetland UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and boast one of the country's most outstanding ecological environments and biodiversity.
Zhou Bin, Yancheng party secretary, shared Yancheng's ecological conservation experience at the opening ceremony. Over the past 40 years, Yancheng has built an ecological conservation system under the principle of "ecology first," spanning from protecting migratory bird habitats to restoring wild populations. As a result, the number of milu deer, which stood at only 39 in 1986, has now increased to more than 8,500. At the same time, he added, the city has also built an industrial system for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.
A report on the "state of the world's coastal ecosystems" was also released at the opening ceremony. This report is the first to systematically assess the distribution, changes, and key drivers of 13 types of coastal ecosystems worldwide.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between battery company Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) and the city of Yancheng was also signed that day. The two sides plan to jointly explore new models for decarbonized development.
Aminath Hussain Sharif, minister of state at the Maldives Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, said, "International cooperation through platforms like the World Coastal Forum is more important than anything. We must expand the exchange of knowledge, technology, and funding to protect coastal ecosystems, support a sustainable 'blue economy,' and build climate-resilient communities."