Chinese VP lays out proposals on sustainable ocean governance at UN conference

NICE, France -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday laid out four proposals on sustainable ocean governance while addressing the general debate at the ongoing third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France.

He stressed that it is a responsibility that all parties should shoulder to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in various fields, including SDG14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Han said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out that the blue planet humans inhabit is not divided into islands by the oceans, but connected by the oceans to form a community with a shared future.

He called on all parties to take the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN as an opportunity to coordinate the conservation and sustainable use of resources to promote the sustainable development of the ocean and build a community with a shared future.

First, he noted that all parties should make the oceans peaceful and secure to provide a solid foundation for achieving SDG14. All parties should practice true multilateralism, observe the international rules on the ocean, defend the common heritage of mankind, and uphold the interests of the international community as a whole, he said.

Second, he called on all parties to make the ocean universally beneficial and prosperous to provide a strong momentum for achieving SDG14. He also called on promoting maritime connectivity and practical cooperation in partnership with each other. China will carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs to support developing countries, including small island developing States, in implementing the SDGs, Han added.

Han also urged all parties to make the ocean a shared space where civilizations meet and flourish together to provide a good environment for achieving SDG14. All parties should respect the diversity of maritime civilizations, set up more maritime dialogue platforms, and foster a fair, just, open and inclusive maritime order, he said.

China will provide training opportunities to developing countries to bolster their capacity building in maritime sustainable development, Han said.

Han also noted that the ocean should be kept clean and beautiful to provide strong support for achieving SDG14.

China will work through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to promote maritime governance and green development together with relevant international organizations, Han said, adding that China supports the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) in entering into force and fully playing its role at an early date.