China to make greater efforts to build harmonious oceans

 

Xinhua, December 7, 2011

China will take advantage of the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS) to make greater efforts together with other countries to build harmonious oceans, Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said on Tuesday.

Addressing the meeting of the 66th General Assembly on the theme of oceans and the law of the sea, Wang said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

"We support the Commission in fulfilling its responsibilities in strict compliance with the Convention and the Commission's Rules of Procedure and hope that the delineation of the outer limits of continental shelf will balance the legitimate rights and interests of the coastal states and the interests of international community as a whole," he said. "The Chinese delegation calls on all relevant parties to continue to work towards an appropriate solution of relevant problems so as to facilitate the work of the Commission."

Concerning the work of the International Seabed Authority, Wang said that China looks forward to an early completion of the drafting of the Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Cobalt-Rich Crusts and hopes that the Regulations will give a balanced reflection of the concerns of all parties.

In addition, the Chinese government values and supports the important role of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes and the maintenance of international maritime order, Wang said.

At the same time, Wang emphasized that since the high seas and international seabed involve the interest of the whole international community and the appropriate handling of the question of marine biodiversity in those areas is of important significance for the maintenance of an equitable and rational international maritime order, the relevant work should proceed in a gradual manner and take into full consideration the legitimate need of countries, especially the developing countries, to use marine biological resources.

On sustainable fisheries, Wang said that the Chinese government is willing to continue to work with the countries concerned in a joint effort to promote the development and improvement of international fisheries regimes, rationally regulate fishery activities so as to achieve the sustainable use of marine biological resources, maintain the marine ecological balance and ensure the sharing of the fishery interests by all countries.