Seafoods gather in Xiamen for Ocean City Food Expo
The 2026 Global Ocean City Food Expo opens at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center on March 29. [Photo provided by Lin Yuyang to swj.xm.gov.cn]
The 2026 Global Ocean City Food Expo, Xiamen's first marine food industry exhibition, opened at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center on March 29.
The expo is utilizing the city's unique position as a "Garden on the Sea" and its momentum to host the Secretariat of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), bringing together global resources from the marine food industry and serving as a leading platform for international exchange, collaboration, and innovation.
Domestic and international guests learn about Fujian's seafood products. [Photo provided by Lin Yuyang to swj.xm.gov.cn]
Spanning nearly 20,000 square meters, the expo has attracted over 200 companies and more than 300 organized buyer groups from China and abroad. The event, featuring marine food, functional foods, biotech products, and dedicated zones for processing machinery and packaging, also shows local specialties, time-honored brands, premium beverages, and marine cultural products, presenting a complete industry ecosystem from resource development to the consumer market.
A Ministry of Commerce official expressed hope that the expo will drive high-quality development in the food industry, enhance trade and technology exchanges, and bring "global flavors" to Chinese tables while taking "Chinese tastes" to the world.
Amzath Ahmed, minister of State for Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Maldives, speaks on behalf of the international guests. [Photo provided by Lin Yuyang to swj.xm.gov.cn]
Amzath Ahmed, minister of State for Fisheries and Marine Resources of the Maldives, spoke on behalf of the international guests, expressing a shared vision to deepen cooperation in the marine industry and advance the blue economy.
Through matchmaking events, targeted negotiations, and on-site signings, the expo is set to connect producers with markets and businesses with buyers, with these procurement events expected to generate 1 billion yuan ($145 million) in intended transactions.
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.