Cooperation in maritime industries, scientific research and environmental protection will be further enhanced between Hainan and other maritime economies, officials said on Saturday during the Boao Forum for Asia.

The island province of Hainan, with abundant maritime resources, will promote cooperative development in 10 key industries, including travel, logistics, information services and maritime equipment manufacturing, with economies in the Pacific Ocean area, Liu Cigui, governor of Hainan province, said at a panel discussion.

As China's southernmost province, Hainan is of great strategic significance to the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, part of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping three years ago.

This initiative provided various opportunities for surrounding maritime economies to integrate into the global economy, said Peter M. Christian, president of the Federated States of Micronesia. He described these economies as "brothers and sisters".