On November 3-4, the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean 
Governance 2022 was successfully held in Sanya, Hainan.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the China-Southeast Asia Research Center on 
the South China Sea, Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean 
Governance, China Ocean Development Foundation and National Institute for South 
China Sea Studies.

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State 
Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a video message. Liu 
Zhenmin, former UN Under-Secretary-Genera, Wang Hong, Vice Minister of China's 
Ministry of Natural Resources, Deng Xijun, Ambassador of China's Mission to 
ASEAN, and Michael Lodge, Secretary-General of the International Seabed 
Authority delivered video speeches.

Wang Yi said that China stands ready to work with other countries to uphold the 
spirit of a maritime community of a shared future proposed by President Xi, 
balance maritime development with security, and promote maritime cooperation 
and ocean governance. Firstly, we need to jointly protect maritime security. We 
must settle maritime conflicts in a peaceful manner. Secondly, we need to 
jointly promote maritime development. We need to promote maritime connectivity 
and ensure the smooth flow of maritime transport and industrial chains. 
Thirdly, we need to discuss ocean governance together. We must adhere to 
genuine multilateralism and keep improving the governance system centered on 
the United Nations.

Liu Zhenmin, introduced the 2022 UN Ocean Conference and its outcome documents, 
stressing that ocean is the key to global sustainable development and 
prosperity, as it generates 50% of the oxygen needed by humans and is vital to 
mitigating the effects of climate change. All countries need to take more 
concerted actions to protect and peacefully use ocean and marine resources, in 
order to promote sustainable ocean development and build an equitable blue 
ocean.

Wang Hong said that global ocean governance is facing profound adjustments and 
changes. In the face of these crises, no country or region can do it alone. 
China stands ready to further deepen cooperation with other countries around 
the world, enhance mutual trust, jointly address challenges, bridge gaps in 
maritime development, promote high-quality Belt and Road development, and 
provide more marine public services and products for the region and the 
international community, thus contributing Chinese wisdom to global ocean 
governance.

Michael Lodge said that the number of deep seabed exploration projects has 
increased from 6 in 2001 to 31 in 2022, involving 22 different countries, 12 of 
which are developing countries. Growing demand for mineral resources has 
prompted countries and multinational corporations to accelerate the development 
of mining technology and assessment on project implementation options. He 
called for greater cooperation among countries to develop and implement a 
comprehensive set of rules and standards governing deep seabed mining and 
related activities, and to build a global governance regime that represents all 
countries, including landlocked countries and small island developing states.

SOURCE: National Institute for South China Sea Studies, China