China has often come under criticism from its neighbors and Western nations for being a major polluter of air and water. Now, China says it wants to cooperate with other nations in efforts to clean up the oceans and protect sea life. In a recent speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for speeding up innovation in ocean technologies and creating “blue partnerships” with other countries. Xi spoke on October 15 to the 2019 China Marine Economy Expo in the southern Chinese port city Shenzhen. His comments were reported by the state-run China Daily news website. Xi suggested improvements in efforts to stop ocean pollution and protect animals that are affected by it. He also urged cooperation with other nations in resource development.