In recent years, the marine cooperation between China and ASEAN has been continuously deepened and expanded. The ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and Republic of Korea) has become the main channel for East Asian cooperation.

From October 2013 to November 2015, Premier Li Keqiang of China State Council attended the 16th, 17th and18th ASEAN Plus Three Leadership Meeting held in Ribaga Bay of Brunei, Naypyidaw of Myanmar and Kuala Lumpur of Malaysia separately. At the 16th meeting, Li Keqiang proposed to establish the East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform to deepen the cooperation in various fields. At the 17th meeting, he added that China is willing to invest 30 million RMB to build the Platform to close regional interconnection. At the 18th meeting, he said that China is stepping up the construction of Platform, which will promote the cooperation in marine connectivity, scientific research and talent training and all parties are welcomed to participate in.

In November 2013, China State Council decided to build the East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform based on Shandong Province with the State Oceanic Administration coordination. On December 17, 2015, the establishment of Work Leading Group and first meeting of Platform was held in Beijing, in which the Construction plan (2015-2020) of East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform was approved.

The East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform takes Qingdao City, Shandong Province as the core and establishes the Headquarters in the West Coast New District of Qingdao. Relying on China Railway.Qingdao Cosmopolitan Exposition, the Platform builds the Cooperation and Exchange Center as the permanent venue and landmark.