Countries with a keen interest in marine science agreed to enhance cooperation on mutual concerns and jointly promote research innovation, organizers said today at the annual meeting of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization.

The 24th annual meeting of the group known as PICES opened in the costal city of Qingdao in East China's Shandong province with the theme "Change and Sustainability of the North Pacific".

Chen Lianzeng, deputy director of the State Oceanic Administration of China, spoke highly of the organization's achievements and said China hopes to deepen cooperation with PICES and play a more important role in promoting marine science research.

The oceanic administration will work with departments such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Education to deepen cooperation with PICES "and increase the capital and support from various kinds of fields to solve hot issues that marine countries in the world are facing," Chen said.

More capital and support will be expended on major marine scientific projects in the future and China seeks more cooperation and exchange of senior and young scientists from home and abroad, he said.

As one of the most important meetings for global oceanic research, the gathering has attracted more than 500 marine field officials, experts and scholars from 16 countries and regions, including 300 from overseas.

Cooperation on climate change and sustainability of the North Pacific were key topics of interest among participating experts and researchers.

"We want to cope with the problems and the first step is understand the trends," said Mark Wells, a professor of oceanography at the University of Maine in the United States. "Marine countries focusing their research on change and sustainability of the North Pacific will help countries and research personnel exchange information and further promote research."

Thomas Therriault, chairman of the PICES Science Board, said a sustainable North Pacific ecosystem is desired by both the public and governments seeking a balance between resource protection and resource utilization.

Founded in 1992, PICES has long worked to promote and coordinate marine research. Members include Canada, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

Approved by the State Council as a founder, China joined PICES in 1992 and has actively participated in academic research. It is the fourth time PICES held its annual meeting in China.