China promotes sustainable development of the oceans
By Yin Miao
People's Daily app
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The General Assembly building at the United Nations headquarters in New York. (Photo: AP)

New York (People’s Daily) – China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Wu Haitao addressed the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly and urged the need for maritime rule of law and sustainable development of the oceans.

Wu said, in the past year, good progress was made in the work of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), and the International Seabed Authority (ISA), which contributed to seeking peaceful settlement of maritime disputes, defining the outer limits of the continental shelf of a coastal state beyond 200 nautical miles, and applying the "principle of common heritage of mankind."

"China hopes that the above three bodies will remain committed to the responsibilities mandated by UNCLOS," he said.

As for the formulation of an international instrument on BBNJ (Biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction) and the formulation of international regulations on seabed exploitation as well, Wu emphasized that negotiations must be based on consensus and in the interests of member states.

Wu said, this year, China has made financial contributions to the voluntary trust fund of ISA and CLCS to encourage the participation of developing countries.

He pointed out that global fisheries are closely linked to food and nutrition security, marine pollution control and eco-environmental protection, and called for cooperation by all parties, stressing that RFMOs are important fisheries management frameworks identified in the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement.

"China has noted that the draft resolution requests the UN Secretary-General to invite relevant parties, including RFMOs, to submit their views on sustainable fisheries."

Wu also said, China is committed to a shared future for oceans and seas and the sustainable development of marine resources, and as such, is ready to contribute to international fisheries management.