Purpose of International Ocean Day

The State Council officially approved the Ministry of Communications and agreed to designate March 17 as "Navigation Day" every year from this year, which is also the implementation date of "World Maritime Day" in China.

Because:

1. "Navigation Day" is a national legal activity day led by the government and attended by the whole people. It is not only a festival involving navigation, ocean, shipbuilding, fishery and other related industries, but also a national cultural activity to publicize and popularize navigation and ocean knowledge, carry forward and cultivate the spirit of the Chinese nation, and promote social harmony and unity. March 17 this year coincides with the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyage to the West, so it is of special historical significance to choose the anniversary of Zheng He's voyage to the West as China's "Sailing Day".

2. Setting up "Navigation Day" in China and determining the specific implementation date of "World Ocean Day" in China will help to better fulfill the obligations of IMO member countries, fully reflect the country's great attention to navigation, carry forward China's long-standing historical tradition of good-neighborliness and friendship, establish an international image of peaceful diplomacy, and enhance the emotional cohesion of Chinese at home and abroad.

3. The theme of the first "Navigation Day" is "Love the motherland, be good-neighborly and friendly, and sail scientifically". It aims to publicize and educate the Chinese nation's long history and excellent traditional culture, socialist navigation and achievements in marine construction, China's basic national conditions and marine strategy, Scientific Outlook on Development and the concept of building a harmonious socialist society, the policy of reunification of the motherland and good-neighborly friendship, patriotism and national spirit, and combine the spirit of the times and the requirements of social development to inspire us to become a maritime power and a shipping power in China.