Tay Yap Leong, senior director of the Malaysian Institute of Defense and Security (MiDAS), shared his excitement about the trip.

"The visit is enlightening. I've seen the advanced technologies applied by companies harvesting marine resources. It has generated a huge blue economy ecosystem for China, particularly in Qingdao," he said.

Renato Peneluppi, an expert on Chinese public administration from Brazil, applauded Qingdao's efforts in nurturing its relationship with the sea. He remarked: "Qingdao is a green and beautiful city. The application of science and technology in the modernization process we see here has generated a high-tech industry, creating jobs that demand a high level of training. There is a strong focus on sustainable development, harmonizing the relationship with nature and improving the quality of life."

As a maritime hub in China, Qingdao boasts an impressive array of marine resources, including 57 research institutions, 56 high-end research and development platforms focused on marine subjects, 20 full-time academicians and many thousands of marine experts and researchers. The robust marine infrastructure contributes significantly to the city's role in promoting sustainable ocean science and cooperation.