CRNTT:

The marine issue concerns the whole world. What progress has China made in engaging in global marine governance? In addition, what are the considerations with regard to advancing international cooperation and exchanges in marine eco-environmental conservation as well as providing Chinese solutions for global marine governance? Thank you.

Sun Shuxian:

Indeed, the current marine-related issues concern the whole world, drawing attention from not only coastal states but also inland countries. China has been attaching great importance to international exchanges and cooperation on marine eco-environmental protection. I would like to briefly talk about the gains of cooperation in the following three aspects.

First, we have continued to deepen cooperation in key areas with Belt and Road Initiative partner countries as well as actively expanding global partnerships. We have issued a series of cooperation documents such as The Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, The Principles for Blue Partnership, and The Belt and Road Blue Cooperation Initiative. China has signed maritime cooperation agreements with over 50 countries and international organizations, laying a solid foundation for practical cooperation.

Second, we have continued to advance the development of cooperation platforms and launched more joint projects. We have established joint marine research centers, laboratories and other cooperation platforms with nine countries, such as Indonesia and Thailand. Marine cooperation mechanisms have been built with EU, African, Southeast Asian and island countries. We have provided technical support and training programs on capacity building for relevant coastal states and island countries in the areas of marine scientific research, marine disaster prevention and mitigation, marine eco-environmental protection and plan formulation concerning exploitation and utilization of marine resources. We have also launched a series of concrete and practical joint projects.

Third, we have taken an active part in the global governance of the marine environment. We have participated and played a constructive role in the whole process of the negotiations for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement. We have responded positively to the U.N. Ocean Decade initiative and shared our practices and experiences in marine research, environmental protection, and disaster prevention and mitigation. We have held a series of international exchange activities including the World Coastal Forum and the World Ocean Week in Xiamen, providing experiences and examples for protecting global marine ecology and environment. 

Going forward, we will take multiple measures to further enhance international cooperation and exchanges for marine eco-environmental protection. First, we will continue to expand our "blue" circle of friends. We will advance cooperation in areas including coordinated maritime management, marine research, marine observation and disaster prevention and mitigation, eco-environmental protection, and capacity building. Second, we will improve the development of cooperation platforms and mechanisms. We will implement the Ocean Decade Action Plan of China, create well-known brands for international cooperation such as the World Coastal Forum, and create more public products and services for the international community. We will actively participate in the global governance of the marine environment, carry out in-depth cooperation with the U.N. and its specialized agencies as well as regional organizations, conduct multilateral and bilateral consultation concerning important agendas in marine ecology, contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions, and display the image of a major responsible country with concrete actions. Thank you.