The 2014 Qingdao International Conference on Desalination and Water Reuse kicks off in Qingdao on June 10.

Glen Daigger, president of the International Water Association, delivers a keynote speech.

The 2014 Qingdao International Conference on Desalination and Water Reuse kicked off on June 10 in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province.

Themed "Desalination: Innovation Driven and Green Development," the three-day event attracted over 700 experts from 300 enterprises in 20 countries and regions.

Co-sponsored by the China Association for Science and Technology and the Qingdao municipal people's government, Qingdao has hosted the international conference eight times.

This year's event consists of 13 sessions on nine subjects, including innovation and development of seawater desalination technology, environment protection and international cooperation.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Wang Guangzheng, vice-mayor of Qingdao, said the city will follow a concept of "global vision, international standard and local advantage" to build a national-level marine science and technology city.

"The whole world is focusing on the marine economy, especially in the new century. I hope this conference could promote exchanges and cooperation between countries and realize a new leap forward in building the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone," Wang said.