The Development Plan of the Fujian Straits Blue Economy Pilot Zone will be released soon. An area of 190,000 square kilometers, covering Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, in the province will be included in the economic pilot zone.

The Fujian provincial government issued documents in August to propose the establishment of the Straits Blue Economy Pilot Zone. It was expected that the province's gross marine production reach 730 billion yuan ($116 billion) by 2015, making up over 28 percent of Fujian's GDP.

The new pilot zone will comprise of 136,000 square kilometers of sea area and 54,000 square kilometers of land area in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou, Putian, Ningde and the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone. It aims to promote cooperation with Taiwan and other neighbouring regions on maritime issues and oceanic development.

The Development and Reform Commission, the Communications Department, and other departments of Fujian will work together to improve comprehensive planning of coastal zones, new marine industries and marine service industries. A supportive policy for water desalination will also be issued.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai