Experts on maritime issues, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai International Studies University, the PLA University of International Relations in Nanjing, and the Xinhua News Agency, were all invited to attend the meeting.

Participants reviewed past events, acknowledging achievements while noting problems to be tackled. An array of maritime issues were also discussed at the meeting. 

Some of the scholars shared what they learned from foreign experts on the South China Sea issue and China-South Korea relations at international conferences they recently attended. Some presented their interpretation of the changing political landscape in Myanmar, and offered their views on the government reshuffle in Vietnam. 

Topics being discussed also included maritime counter-terrorism, and China’s maritime strategy. Participants also shared insights into the recent USS Lassen incident, and the arbitration initiated by the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.