How to Create a Legal Mechanism for China-ASEAN Cooperation on Fisheries in the Context of the ＂21st Century Maritime Silk Road

The ＂21st Century Maritime Silk Road＂ (hereinafter ＂MSR＂) initiative, which was put forward by the Chinese government in 2013, has been received positively by the other States along the road. As the proposal has shifted gradually from vision to implementation, it advances at an unexpected high rate and has yielded substantial benefits for the States concerned, which would, in turn, expect to attract more participants. These new participants will surely bring more integration and development to the marine economy of China and ASEAN. The MSR has provided, in particular, the fishery sector with new opportunities for cooperation. However, China and ASEAN still face many challenges, due to the absence of a stable legal mechanism in this regard. To deepen China- ASEAN cooperation on marine fisheries and to boost the development of their marine economies, a systemic legal mechanism to promote cooperation should be established, taking into account both the characteristics of fisheries in China and ASEAN and the opportunities accompanied by the implementation of the MSR initiative. Such a mechanism would have both inter-governmental cooperation and coordination at its heart, and should be set up by creating or improving the relevant legal regulations already in place. A sound mechanism for fishery cooperation should consist of mechanisms for managing fishery resources, supporting development, insuring against disasters, providing information services and settling disputes. By addressing the problems related to fisheries, this mechanism would help unlock a broader space for cooperation, and ensure industrial safety and investment interests of all parties.