China and Thailand passed a five-year plan (2014-2018) to strengthen marine cooperation on Wednesday, the State Oceanic Administration said.

The plan, signed in Phuket, includes the joint construction of a laboratory to study the marine ecosystem.

Besides the plan, Chen Lianzeng, deputy director of the administration, proposed establishing a high-level dialogue mechanism, encouraging scientific institutes and organizations from both countries to cooperate in marine studies.

He also suggested inviting officials and scholars from Thailand to attend a series of conferences and events in China.

The third marine cooperation conference between China and Thailand will be held in China in 2014.