On 7 November 2016, the second program of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance is launched in Haikou, Hainan Province. It is co-organized by the NISCSS, China-Southeast Asia Research Center on the South China Sea and the International Ocean Institute (IOI)-Canada.

The ten-day program covers various subjects, such as the law of the sea, maritime delimitation, international shipping, regional security, climate change, environmental protection, living and non-living resources management and development, and comprehensive marine management. The courses are given in English by 17 prominent experts from China and abroad, including Vladimir Golitsyn (president of International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea) and Sorajak Kasemsuvan (former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand).

The participants are composed of over 30 scholars and officials from ocean-related agencies, universities and research institutions in China and ASEAN countries. There will be lectures, discussions, group course work and visits to Hainan Maritime Safety Administration and Hainan Academy of Ocean and Fisheries Sciences so that the participants can get an understanding of the development of ocean industries in Hainan. 

At the opening ceremony, Ms. Li Jianwei (director of the Research Center for Maritime Economy of the NISCSS) and Ms. Ratana Chuenpagdee (senior research fellow at IOI-Canada and professor at Canada Memorial University) extended warm welcome and thanks to the participants and speakers. They also encouraged the participants to deepen mutual understanding and foster friendship in the course of learning multi-disciplinary approach to maritime governance.

As an important project under the auspices of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund, this academy is designed as an institutionalized platform to promote maritime personnel training and exchanges among China and the ASEAN countries, and has been widely acclaimed since its launch. It will play a positive role in training maritime personnel and enhancing regional mutual trust. It will also have a far-reaching impact on the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries to bolster maritime cooperation and build maritime silk road in the 21st century.