More than 100 representatives from 12 APEC economies and prominent international organizations gathered in Shenzhen on July 15 when the APEC Blue Citizen Community Summer School: Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation and Community Development officially opened. The event marked a significant step forward in regional maritime cooperation.

Participants from 12 APEC economies and prominent international organizations pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the APEC Blue Citizen Community Summer School: Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation and Community Development in Shenzhen on July 15. Photos by Shenzhen TV News

Researchers, conservationists, corporate leaders, and grassroots community members, as well as representatives from the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), gathered with a focus on bridge-building between high-level policy and local action in the conservation of coral reef ecosystem.

As a flagship international public program launched by China within the APEC framework, the Blue Citizen initiative aims to decentralize global ocean governance. By shifting the focus from top-down deployment to grassroots involvement, the initiative seeks to transform ecological conservation concepts into a conscious, collective effort by all citizens. The summer school served as a dynamic platform for enhancing ocean literacy and transnational collaboration through a mix of specialized lectures, case studies, field investigations, and roundtable forums. Participants engaged in deep discussions on coral reef restoration, sustainable community development, and the cultivation of a "blue" mindset to explore new pathways for collaborative governance in the Asia-Pacific.

A view of the APEC Blue Citizen Community Summer School: Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation and Community Development in Shenzhen on July 15.

During the opening ceremony, several certification ceremonies were held for Blue Citizen Communities, Blue Citizen Volunteers, and the Blue Citizen Enterprise Alliance. Syarifah Aini Dalimunthe, a researcher from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, praised the initiative's impact, noting that Shenzhen's practical examples — particularly in schools and mangrove reserves — offer meaningful insights that she hopes to bring back to her own work. Gesling Lulupa Chee, a fisheries trade policy coordinator from Papua New Guinea, emphasized the importance of two-way knowledge exchange, stating that learning from China’s experience is crucial for boosting his nation's local economic and ecological development.

To ensure the integration of theory and practice, the program includes a two-day immersive field study. Representatives will visit key sites such as the Shenzhen Mingde Experimental School's Bihai campus, the Baguang Heritiera Littoralis Wetland Park, and the Dongchong Community to witness firsthand the city's achievements in marine conservation and community building. A “Blue Citizen Community Handbook” will be compiled following the field study session, summarizing replicable governance experiences for coastal communities across the Asia Pacific.

Shenzhen has leveraged its natural resources to create several successful models, including the Dongchong Community and the Baguang Nature School. The city has pioneered a "four-in-one" governance model that integrates government guidance, technological empowerment, corporate responsibility, and public action. The city plans to use the outcomes of the summer school to deepen cooperation with APEC economies. By utilizing the Urban Index System (UIS) for scientific evaluation, Shenzhen is committed to improving coastal governance and explore scalable models for marine protection, contributing "Shenzhen momentum" to the global effort of building a shared future for the world's oceans.