China stands ready to work with other parties to support implementation of the UN agreement on marine biological diversity, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Lin made the remarks in response to a media query regarding China's recent deposit with the UN secretary-general of the instrument of ratification for the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
"The BBNJ Agreement, an important international convention under the framework of the UN, was adopted by consensus of over 190 countries after 19 years of negotiations, and represents a milestone of international laws on the sea. The agreement aims at promoting sustainable development of the ocean through preserving marine ecology, encouraging green transition in countries' deep-sea and ocean activities, and helping to implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It bears great significance to advancing global marine governance and upholding international order at sea," said Lin.
China acts in accordance with the Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and works to implement the four major global initiatives -- Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative, he noted.
"As a major country in terms of deep-sea and ocean activities, China attaches great importance to the protection of marine environment, and has been deeply involved in the negotiations for the BBNJ Agreement and made important contribution to its conclusion. China signed the agreement on the first day when it was opened for signature, one of the first countries to do so, and China deposited with the UN secretary-general the instrument of ratification before it enters into force, becoming one of the first party states to the agreement. This fully demonstrates China's sense of responsibility as a major country and support for multilateralism, and will help encourage extensive participation in the agreement and safeguard the common wellbeing of humanity," said Lin.
China stands ready to work with other parties to support the full, accurate and effective implementation of the agreement, protect and develop well the blue home of humanity, and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, said the spokesman.
China willing to work with all parties to support implementation of UN agreement on marine biodiversity: spokesman
