The 2026 World Maritime Equipment Conference opens on Oct 16 at the Fuzhou Strait International Conference and Exhibition Center, East China's Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 2026 World Maritime Equipment Conference opened on Oct 16 in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian province, bringing together participants from more than 50 countries and regions to discuss marine technology, industrial cooperation, and the development of maritime equipment.

The event, themed "Green, Smart, and Collaborative: Navigating a Shared Blue Ocean", runs through Oct 19 at the Fuzhou Strait International Conference and Exhibition Center. More than 80 foreign government officials and representatives of international organizations are attending, with Perpignan, France, a sister city of Fuzhou, serving as the guest city of honor for the first time.

CATL showcases its latest research in the modern marine and equipment section. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Business matchmaking is a major part of the conference. An online platform has published more than 400 procurement notices for ship components and maritime equipment across 30 editions, generating over 5,000 procurement leads. The event also provides in-person supplier-buyer meetings and a digital system for business matching and meeting-room reservations.

The conference features six branded forums, with 53 universities and research institutes participating, including Zhejiang University, the China Center for Information Industry Development, and the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. Fifteen specialized sub-forums cover topics ranging from electric vessels and fishery equipment to offshore wind power, deep-sea equipment, and standards for autonomous ship navigation.

Held alongside the conference, the Fourth Fujian International Marine Equipment Expo showcases more than 7,000 products and technological achievements across 11 specialized zones, with a record number of exhibitors and numerous debut displays.

A seminar on sustainable maritime innovation, held in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has brought together more than 100 participants from over 30 countries and regions to share innovative practices and review previous cooperation.

A company staff member explains the equipment to a foreign visitor at the exhibition section. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]