The Fujian Ocean Innovation Center (Fujian-OI) has officially joined Mission Neptune as a Mission Partner, a milestone that expands its multilateral networks and international footprint. Concurrently, Prof. Minhan Dai, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of Fujian-OI, has been appointed as a member of the Scientific Council for Mission Neptune, underscoring Fujian-OI's growing academic leadership in global ocean governance.

First announced by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in June 2025, Mission Neptune targets unexplored deep-sea and high-seas regions. The initiative mobilizes multilateral scientific exploration to address eight core oceanic challenges—spanning deep-sea ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, and the ocean carbon cycle. By bridging critical knowledge gaps, the mission delivers robust scientific evidence and builds high-level consensus to underpin the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement and advance global ocean stewardship.

On UN World Ocean Day (June 8, 2026), the inaugural Mission Forum convened in Paris, marking the official launch of the initiative. Bringing together world-class scientists, diplomats, and policymakers, the forum featured a virtual address by Prof. Minhan Dai during the high-level "Planetary Ocean" session. "The Earth needs the ocean, just as humanity needs water." Prof. Dai emphasized, "Deep-sea exploration is no longer a matter of pure scientific curiosity; it is a strategic imperative for global governance, planetary sustainability, and our collective future."

To anchor this partnership, Prof. Dai was invited to visit the Mission Neptune Secretariat in Paris on June 15, 2026, for a strategic meeting with Executive Director Ashok Adicéam. Their discussions focused on deep-sea biodiversity, high-seas governance, and mechanisms for long-term multilateral exchange. Moving forward, Fujian-OI will leverage its cutting-edge marine research alongside its signature framework of "Science, Technology, Governance, and Finance" to collaborate with global stakeholders, contributing shared wisdom and solutions to deep-sea exploration and the regenerative blue economy.