HAIKOU, August 21. /TASS/. A group of reporters from countries across the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were shown the development at and potential of the Hainan Free Trade Port in China’s southernmost province, the Sanya Daily reported.
A press tour was recently organized in Sanya for 29 journalists from 16 leading ASEAN-based media outlets. The program included a tour of innovative practices in the conservation of tropical aquatic plants, the testing of marine equipment, coral reef protection, and other fields.
A tropical aquatic plant conservation center which has a collection of more than 300 lotus varieties impressed the reporters the most, the newspaper wrote. According to it, the facility is a brilliant example of conservation of the gene material from the tropical aquatic flora.
The reporters also had an opportunity to see a reservoir for simulating extremely high waves based on deep sea technology and innovation in Yazhou Bay. Participants in the press tour were told about rigorous testing of marine energy equipment, underwater robots, oil and gas platforms, monitoring devices, etc. Extreme deep-sea conditions with waves and currents are simulated for that which enables testing and optimization of the stability and reliability of marine equipment.
At the Sanya Coral Reef Research Institute, the reporters learned that it has a well-established research system with a laboratory for genetic analysis of coral reefs, a laboratory studying the impact of stress on sea environment, and a laboratory for the monitoring of the deep sea at its nucleus. The Institute specializes in coral reef research near the Island of Hainan and environmental protection.
Wu Chuanliang, Director of the Sanya Coral Reef Research Institute, told the group of reporters about China’s approach to coral reef protection. Also, he said hopefully the Chinese concept will reach a wider number of countries for the sake of joint coral reef protection in the South China Sea. “The project to build a free trade port on Hainan Island will open up multiple opportunities, and it is necessary to establish exchange mechanisms and contribute to regular cooperation. The Institute already maintains cooperation with Malaysia and it expects to establish ties with a larger number of ASEAN member countries,” Wu Chuanliang said.