A delegation from Taizhou visited the Maltepe district in Istanbul, Turkiye on Feb 21, to exchange ideas and experiences related to marine ecological environmental protection.

During a symposium held in the locality, officials from the Maltepe government warmly welcomed the Taizhou delegation. They commended Taizhou's "Blue Circle" initiative, aimed at reducing marine plastic pollution, for earning the 2023 Champions of the Earth award, the United Nations' highest environmental honor.

Given Turkiye's extensive 7,200-kilometer coastline spanning both Asia and Europe, officials acknowledged the value of Taizhou's proactive efforts in managing marine plastic waste. They considered the experiences gained by Taizhou highly instructive and worthy of emulation for coastal regions globally, including Turkey.

The Taizhou delegation presented an overview of Taizhou and highlighted the city's achievements in ecological environmental protection. Taizhou is home to three bays — Taizhou Bay, Sanmen Bay, and Leqing Bay — boasting a mainland coastline stretching 726 km and a sea area of 6,653 square kilometers.

To address marine plastic waste, Taizhou introduced the "Blue Circle" model in 2020. This program utilizes blockchain technology and the Internet of Things to monitor the entire life cycle of plastic pollution, from collection to regeneration, re-manufacturing, and resale.

As China's largest marine plastic waste program, the initiative, as of October 2023, had successfully collected 10,700 metric tons of marine debris, as confirmed by the United Nations Environment Programme.

Looking to the future, the Taizhou delegation expressed a commitment to expanding international cooperation and offering Chinese solutions to global marine governance. They emphasized their dedication to the responsibility and mission of safeguarding the blue planet.