China plans to launch a program to help train international oceanic technical and legal professionals, an official from the State Oceanic Administration said on Friday.

Zhang Zhanhai, director of the administration's international cooperation department, said it is currently discussing how to provide training for the International Seabed Authority's staff in China.

He made the remarks at an international symposium in Beijing, attended by more than 160 geographic and legal experts from around 20 countries.

"China has provided a detailed plan for the training program. If everything goes smoothly, the program is expected to start from next year," said Nii A Odunton, secretary-general of the ISA.

But neither Zhang nor Odunton disclosed details of the training program.

Odunton said the ISA, as well as some other international oceanic organizations, are in great need of international oceanic technical and legal professionals.

"We appreciate China's enthusiasm for training international oceanic technical and legal experts," he said.

Apart from the training program, the administration has already been cooperating with Germany, Niger and Argentina in scientific research, said Zhang.

Last week, the administration signed an agreement with Indonesia to set up an ecosystem research station in northern Sulawesi in Indonesia.