Follow the Vision for a Maritime Community with a

Shared Future to Write a New Chapter of

Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance

Keynote Speech by Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao

At the Opening Ceremony of the Symposium on Global

Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2021

Your Excellency Deputy Governor Wang Bin

Founding President Wu Shicun,

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2021. Just now, State Councilor Wang Yi gave pre-recorded video-remarks, and he put forward important ideas and initiatives on promoting global maritime cooperation and ocean governance. I would like to take this opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views with you.

The ocean is the cradle of life, a treasure house of resources and a bond of connectivity, bearing the hope for humanity’s survival and development. A review of human history tells us that the ocean has been essential for countries to develop, related to and interact with each other, and pursue common prosperity. Since the beginning of this century, with the advancement of technological innovation and economic globalization, countries have become more dependent on the ocean, and development and utilization of marine resources has reached an unprecedented level.

The ocean has brought not only benefits to mankind, but also tests and challenges. At present, rising maritime hegemonism and power politics and emergence of exclusive blocs with the specter of Cold War have seriously affected the maritime order based on international law. The utilization and preservation of marine resources is unbalanced. Conserving and improving the marine ecology remains a formidable task. Not long ago, some country made the flagrant decision to dump nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, which aroused serious concerns of the international community.

China has been a major maritime country in history. Today, China depends all the more on the ocean for its development and prosperity. China upholds the spirit of peaceful development, openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, and works relentlessly with the rest of the world to safeguard maritime peace and tranquility, advance cooperation on ocean governance, and jointly build a maritime community with a shared future.

China has been a committed upholder of maritime order. China has always strictly observed the UN Charter and international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and has been building up the maritime legal framework. We are committed to build an equitable, mutually beneficial, fair and reasonable international maritime order, actively advocated global ocean governance and-fully participated in the formulation and implementation of rules under the framework of the United Nations. Through these efforts, we have proposed China’s solutions and contributed Chinese wisdom.

China has been a firm defender of maritime peace. China has never used the ocean for invasion or expansion. Following the principle of mutual respect and equal consultation, we are committed to resolving disputes over territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests through negotiation. China and ASEAN countries have signed and fully implemented the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and have continuously advanced the consultations on the code of conduct (CoC) to jointly uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. China has taken an active part in combating piracy off the Coast of Somalia and dispatched 39 naval escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden, which fully demonstrated its sense of responsibility as a major country to uphold international maritime navigation security.

China is an active promoter of maritime cooperation. We are always committed to expanding converging interests through cooperation, and have made progress in exploring maritime fishery cooperation and joint development of resources with its neighbors. China has also established several funds for Asian cooperation to push forward regional maritime cooperation. China has actively followed the spirit of UNCLOS and promoted the establishment of cooperation mechanism among coastal states of the South China Sea. With the EU, China has conducted exchanges and cooperation in such fields as port economy and protection of marine ecology.

China is a significant contributor to maritime development. China is a major country in marine economy and shipping. Topping the global ranking in terms of the number and size of ports and with the world's second largest shipping capacity, China has provided powerful support for maintaining the stability of global supply chains and facilitating global economic recovery. Putting forth the initiative of jointly building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, China has actively promoted connectivity and economic integration of countries along the routes. Hainan, where we are now, is working hard to build the world’s largest pilot free-trade port. In the future, it will become an important place connecting China and the world.

China is a committed participant in marine ecological conservation. We have followed the new development philosophy of pursuing innovative, coordinated, green, and open development for all, effectively enforced the policy of fishing moratorium in summer, and boosted the development of aquaculture, with a view to promoting sustainable development in the marine sphere. We have brought nearly 30% of our coastal waters and 37% of our coastline under the management of the ecological conservation redline system, and established more than 270 marine conservation zones of various categories, covering over 12 million hectares. Major ecological restoration projects including the Blue Bay Initiative, Conserving Mangrove in the South and Willow in the North, and Ecological Islands are implemented at a faster pace.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, mankind living on this blue planet should not be split into isolated islands by oceans. Instead, we should make the ocean a bond for jointly building a maritime community with a shared future. We are ready to work with all countries to embrace the vision of a maritime community with a shared future, and contribute to the improvement of global maritime cooperation and ocean governance.

First, we need to stay committed to multilateralism to improve the system of ocean governance. We should follow the principle of inclusiveness and joint governance, and oppose maritime hegemony, division and confrontation, with a view to building a new international maritime order that benefits the world and serves the future of mankind. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the adoption of UNCLOS, which presents us an opportunity to implement the convention fully, effectively and to the letter. China calls on the United States to positively consider acceding to UNCLOS and take real action to join the efforts of upholding international maritime rule of law. China is ready to accelerate the formulation of COC together with ASEAN countries to blaze a new path for regional ocean governance that accommodates concerns and interests of all parties.

Second, we need to stay committed to dialogue and consultation to preserve the bottom line of peaceful ocean. All countries need to promote dialogue and cooperation under the framework of the UN Charter and international law, and jointly uphold global maritime peace and security. We call on the states concerned in the South China Sea to continue exercising restraint and avoid taking actions that may escalate disputes or complicate the situation. We ask forces outside the region to respect the regional countries’ will and efforts, instead of arbitrarily infringing upon coastal states’ sovereignty and security, stirring up troubles out of nothing, deliberately sowing discord, or disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Third, we need to stay committed to openness and shared benefits to deepen practical maritime cooperation. China welcomes other countries’ active participation in pursuing high-quality cooperation on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road following the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We are ready to work with all countries to forge efficient and safe maritime transportation networks, foster the Partnership on Blue Economy and elevate the development of marine economy worldwide. China stands ready to promote mutually beneficial cooperation with its maritime neighbors on all fronts and continuously make solid progress in areas such as scientific research, marine fisheries, disaster prevention and mitigation, and joint development.

Fourth, we need to stay committed to harmonious co-existence to make the ocean a beautiful home. We must always put people and life first, and join hands to tackle global challenges and traditional and non-traditional security threats including climate change, sea level rise and deterioration of marine environment. We need to follow the new development philosophy and strive to achieve harmony between man and ocean in the process of development. China will continue to speed up the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We will work with countries around the world to conserve marine ecosystem to keep the ocean clear and blue for the benefit of the entire humanity.

In conclusion, I wish all the friends, scholars and experts a thorough and fruitful discussion, which I believe will pool your wisdom, build consensus, and enable the symposium to produce valuable contributions for enhancing global maritime cooperation and ocean governance.

Thank you!