BEIJING - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members passed a declaration on Thursday calling for the establishment of a new partnership focusing on maritime cooperation in the region.

The agreement came out of a meeting in Xiamen, a port city in southeast China's Fujian Province.

According to the declaration, APEC members will try to form a partnership to collaborate in areas such as coastal and marine ecosystem conservation and disaster resilience; the role of the ocean in food security and food-related trade; marine science, technology and innovation; and the blue economy.

Liu Cigui, executive chairman of the ministerial meeting and head of China's State Oceanic Administration, said that the partnership is necessary as oceanic development and mitigation of disasters at sea require cross-boarder work.

The meeting is one of nine ministerial ones that will be held in China before November, when leaders from APEC members will meet in Beijing.