The scene of the WPNS Workshop 2024.
BEIJING, Jan. 19 -- The Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Workshop 2024 hosted by the Chinese PLA Navy was wrapped up in China's Nanjing city on the morning of January 18.
During the three days of the meeting, delegates from 30 countries had friendly, candid and constructive exchanges on various topics, and achieved a series of preliminary results on the revision of the WPNS Business Charter, the use of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, and the establishment of a research working group on unmanned systems with the Chinese Navy serving as the coordinator.
"As the global landscape is undergoing profound evolution and the maritime security situation is becoming increasingly complex, we hope that through the open, inclusive, pragmatic and effective WPNS workshop, we can promote and deepen the exchanges and cooperation among member states under the framework of the WPNS, and further manage differences and mitigate risks," said Senior Captain Ren Xiaofeng of the PLA Naval Research Institute.
At the meeting, suggestions from all parties have been adopted and consensuses have been reached on a number of documents and rules. At the same time, the preliminary arrangement of the WPNS activities in the next decade and beyond has been confirmed, laying a solid foundation for the participating countries to jointly strengthen maritime governance and maintain regional peace and stability.
It is learnt that, "security" is one of the words mentioned most frequently in this meeting. Delegates from member states actively discussed the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea and other regional public safety regulations. The Chinese Navy's mission of delivering relief supplies to Tonga has been incorporated as a case in the Disaster Response Guide. The role the Chinese Navy played in humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations through active participation in international efforts was also acclaimed.
The WPNS Workshop 2024 is the preparatory meeting for the 19th WPNS biennial meeting to be held in the Chinese port city of Qingdao in April this year. The WPNS is a regional naval cooperation mechanism, holding a workshop every year and a biennial meeting every two years. After more than 30 years of development, it has grown into an organization having 23 member states and seven observer states, and become an influential institutional naval symposium in the Western Pacific region.
Delegates in discussion.
Delegates attending the WPNS Workshop 2024 pose for a group photo.