by Zheng Zongwen
After nearly two decades of discussions, including five years of negotiations, the High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), entered into force in January this year. The agreement marks a new chapter in global ocean governance and the rule of law in international maritime affairs.
China, which participated in the full course of the BBNJ Agreement negotiations and signed it when it was first opened for signature, has ratified the agreement. Attaching great importance to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, China has been deeply engaged in global ocean governance, which dovetails with the objectives of the agreement.
STRONG CANDIDATE TO HOST SECRETARIAT
With a view to fulfilling the purpose and objectives of the agreement, China has submitted its bid to host the BBNJ Secretariat in Xiamen. Known as the "Garden on the Sea," Xiamen is a beautiful and livable city on the southeast coast of China and has been a gateway to international trade and cultural exchange for centuries.
Since 2005, Xiamen has hosted 20 sessions of the World Ocean Week, aiming to promote high-quality ocean development.
Boasting a rapidly growing blue economy and an enabling environment for innovation with more than 30 marine R&D platforms and over 5,000 researchers, Xiamen possesses robust strengths and great potential to advance global ocean governance.
It looks forward to providing the best working environment for the Secretariat and helping it better fulfill its founding missions.
CHAMPION OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
China has extensive coastal waters that are home to over 28,000 marine species, ranking among the world's richest in marine biodiversity.
In recent years, guided by the philosophy of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, China has worked tirelessly to develop marine resources through science-based marine spatial planning and better preservation of the ocean's regenerative capacity.
It has designated ecological red lines covering a coastal and marine area of 150,000 square km and established 353 marine protected areas. The area of mangrove forests, known as the cradle of marine life, grew to 31,700 hectares as of last year, making China one of the few countries with a net increase in mangrove coverage.
To maintain population stability, China has rolled out special action plans for flagship species, rescuing and conserving endangered marine wildlife such as the Chinese white dolphin and spotted seals.
More importantly, the outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan(2026-2030) sets out comprehensive arrangements for strengthening marine development, utilization and conservation, which underpins China's commitment to ocean governance and marine biodiversity protection.
IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR TO GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY GOVERNANCE
Following the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, China has stepped up policy coordination and pragmatic cooperation with other countries in advancing the building of a community of all life on Earth.
During its presidency of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity from 2021 to 2024, China championed the Kunming Declaration and facilitated the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. China also established the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, taking the lead by investing 1.5 billion yuan (224 million U.S. dollars), which has supported around 40 developing countries.
Furthermore, China has been the largest contributor to the core budget of the Convention and its protocols, as well as the largest developing country contributor to the Global Environment Facility since 2019.
To further strengthen global ocean governance, China has implemented voluntary fishing bans on the high seas, supported the establishment of Antarctic marine protected areas and engaged in developing green shipping corridors.
ACTIVE PROMOTER OF BLUE PARTNERSHIPS
As a frontrunner in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, China has actively promoted the building of equal, pragmatic and mutually beneficial blue partnerships.
It has established marine cooperation with over 90 countries and international organizations and jointly built more than 40 cooperative institutions, such as marine research centers. The Thematic Forum on Maritime Cooperation of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in 2023 gathered more than 200 officials and experts to discuss sustainable marine development.
In addition, China has launched the marine scholarship for foreign students and organized training courses on marine science, technology and management, benefiting tens of thousands of professionals from over 50 developing countries. Through these concrete efforts, China has contributed valuable insights and viable solutions to improving global ocean governance.
The full implementation of the BBNJ Agreement bears on the well-being of all humanity. As a responsible major country, China is ready to work with all parties to ensure the agreement delivers on the ground, and to make greater contributions to global ocean governance and the international maritime order.
Editor's note: Zheng Zongwen is a commentator on international affairs.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.
