Russian and Chinese scientists discussed prospects for joint work

 

During the meeting, representatives of Russian and Chinese fisheries science exchanged congratulations (on the 100th anniversary of TINRO and the 75th anniversary of IO CAS) and discussed the results of cooperation through the Russian-Chinese Joint Laboratory for Marine Sciences, the establishment of which was decided in September 2024.

 

They also identified promising areas for further strengthening cooperation. These include holding joint scientific conferences, continuing business contacts among young scientists, collating and synchronizing oceanographic and ichthyological databases, organizing joint cruises, including in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean, and continuing research in marine biology, biotechnology, and mariculture using high-tech equipment, genetic approaches, and artificial intelligence.

 

Aleksey Baitalyuk, Deputy Director and Head of the Pacific Branch of VNIRO, noted the high effectiveness of holding conferences for young scientists with international participation. In 2026, VNIRO plans to hold such a conference in Vladivostok, with the active participation of FEFU.

 

Fan Wang, Director of the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, supported the initiative to strengthen collaboration through research conferences, primarily focused on the active participation of young specialists.

 

Comprehensive cooperation between Russia and China has been sustainable for many years. Bilateral projects are also being implemented in the scientific and technological fields.

 

As part of the implementation of the agreements reached following the VNIRO leadership's visit to China in the spring of 2024 and summer of 2025, and the further development of scientific and technical cooperation, bilateral Working Groups for interaction with Chinese research institutes were established.

 

In June 2025, a VNIRO delegation, led by its director, Doctor of Economics Kirill Kolonchin, held a business meeting with the leadership of Zhejiang Ocean University, which resulted in the signing of a Cooperation Agreement. Also on June 16, the Russian delegation visited Tropical Ocean University: the parties exchanged views on the development of scientific and technical cooperation in the areas of stock assessment and conservation of aquatic bioresources, as well as in aquaculture.

 

During the 2024 Eastern Economic Forum, a bilateral agreement was signed between VNIRO and the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO CAS) on the establishment of a Russian-Chinese Joint Laboratory for Marine Sciences.

 

The Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IO CAS) is the first public scientific institution in China to specialize in ocean research. Seventy-five years have passed since its founding in Qingdao (Shandong Province, China). IO CAS's research areas include the rational use of aquatic biological resources, environmental safety, and the study of deep seabeds.

 

The Pacific Branch of VNIRO, known in Russia and abroad as TINRO, is one of the largest fisheries research institutes in Russia. Throughout its 100-year history, TINRO has shared accurate forecasts and effective technologies for harvesting and reproducing aquatic biological resources with industry organizations. The fish processing technologies developed at TINRO have contributed to the development of the fishing industry in the Far East and the rational use of biological resources for many years.

 

Therefore, constructive dialogue between industry research institutes in Russia and China creates the preconditions for the practical application of accumulated knowledge.

 

Currently, the key area of ​​cooperation is biotechnology for the reproduction and cultivation of marine aquatic organisms and the development of biologically active supplements. The results of this collaboration over the past year include the successful cultivation of algae from Undaria seedlings at mariculture sites in Primorye (based on our own developments and consultations with specialists from the Institute of Oceanology of the Canal of the Russian Academy of Sciences) and the preparation of a joint article on the genetic analysis of several geographic populations of Laminaria (the data obtained will be useful for the artificial cultivation of this brown alga).

 

A specific vector for strengthening cooperation in the field of applied ocean research will be specified in the Joint Action Plan for 2026.

 

VNIRO Press Service