Improving Maritime Governance and Working Together to Promote Global Sustainable Development
H.E. Chen Daojiang, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the International Seabed Authority, published a signed article about the participation of China in the international seabed affairs on the occasion of the 73rd Anniversary o
Forty years ago, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was opened for signature in Montego Bay, Jamaica, opening a new chapter in global maritime governance. Over the past decades, the International Seabed Authority has worked with its members to improve the international seabed regime, exercising rights over the resources of the Area on behalf of all mankind, promoting sustainable development of the seas, and crafting the tale of joint protection of the “Blue Home” through these efforts.
This year marks the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the 26th anniversary of China’s accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its membership in the International Seabed Authority. China, as a State Party to the Convention, has always strictly fulfilled its obligations under the Convention, attached great importance to the protection of marine environments, done its best to help other developing countries with their maritime capacitybuilding, participated in and fully supported the work of the three major institutions under the Convention, including the ISA, and actively promoted the building of a maritime community with a shared future.
In the past year, the global epidemic was not yet over, and the ISA has laboured in unity with its members to overcome its challenges and advance gradually in all of its work. At the 27th session, the ISA made a concerted effort to encourage delegations reunion in Kingston to have the in-person meeting and made significant progress on issues including the regulations on the exploitation of international seabed mineral resources, the Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMP), the implementation of the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, and the strengthening of capacity building for developing countries. China has also kept up its involvement in various efforts, deepened its cooperation with the International Seabed Authority in a comprehensive manner, and actively contributed to international seabed affairs. In May this year, the International Seabed Authority-china Joint Training and Research Center (Isa-china JTRC) successfully held its first training workshop, which focused on the survey and assessment of mineral resources, characteristics of deep-sea ecosystems, environmental management, and the global repository of data from exploration activities in the Area, involved 55 participants from 20 countries. In order to support the attendance of representatives from developing countries at the meetings of the Legal and Technical Commission and the Finance Committee as well as the participation of personnel from developing countries in seabed scientific research, the Chinese government continued to donate US$20,000 to the Voluntary Trust Fund and US$20,000 to the Endowment Fund in July. In September, China actively submitted comments on the draft regulations and participated constructively in the formulation of regulations on deep-sea development.
The sea is the common home of humanity. At present, the development of fair and reasonable exploitation regulations with equal rights and responsibilities is a priority for the Authority as international seabed affairs are in transition from exploration to exploitation. We should keep cooperating to enhance global maritime governance and share the outcomes of ocean development.
We need to build consensus on maritime governance and improve the deep-sea regime. The modern law of the sea is an open and inclusive framework. The Convention established management mechanisms and decisionmaking procedures concerning the international seabed. This has consolidated, by legal means, the principle of the common heritage of mankind, thus providing an institutional framework to ensure the effective participation of developing countries in matters related to the international seabed. In order to further enhance and improve the international seabed rules, the exploitation regulations should adhere to the spirit of the Convention and the 1994 Implementing Agreement, and strike a reasonable balance between the exploitation of the deep sea minerals and environmental protection. As we endeavour to create a maritime governance system that reflects the shared ideals of all mankind, we should also uphold and strengthen the leadership of the United Nations and the three major institutions under the Convention, including the ISA.
We must join hands to address the challenges of the marine environment and promote the sustainable development of the seabed. The conservation of the marine environment, rational and orderly resource use, equitable benefit sharing, and the solidarity and collaboration of all countries are necessary for the sustainable development of the global seabed, which is a key component of sustainable development. China places a high priority on the development of a marine ecological civilization and fully understands the value of the Regional Environmental Management Plan (REMP) in protecting the marine environment. It is prepared to strengthen ties with all parties in order to hasten the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and support the Authority’s implementation of the 2019–2023 Strategic Plan.
We need to deepen practical cooperation in the oceans to inject “blue energy” into the post-epidemic economic recovery. Maritime connectivity and cooperation in various fields can become key growth areas for economic and social development in the post-epidemic era. Building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is an initiative that China has put out, and via bilateral maritime cooperation with relevant countries, it has produced positive economic and social results. By promoting maritime connectivity and practical cooperation in a variety of fields, we are ready to actively work with Jamaica and other developing country partners to continue to consolidate and develop an open and inclusive, practical and pragmatic, mutually beneficial, and win-win blue partnership.
At present, the world is undergoing a profound adjustment in the international maritime order as the world’s unprecedented changes accelerate their evolution. We must stay on the correct path as we begin a new chapter in history. China is ready to work with the ISA and its members to uphold the purposes of UNCLOS, deliver its aspirations, forge ahead to advance international seabed affairs, and strive for a higher-standard global maritime governance and greater maritime welfare for mankind.