常驻国际海底管理局代表田琦大使在“国际海底事务”主题招待会上的致辞

2019-03-11 06:00

 

  2019年3月4日)  

     

  尊敬的国际海底管理局秘书长迈克·洛奇阁下  

  副秘书长兼法律顾问阿方索·阿森西奥-埃雷拉先生,  

  尊敬的各位常驻大使代表、副代表,  

  海管局法律和技术委员会的专家和秘书处的同事们,  

  大家晚上好!欢迎并感谢各位出席今晚的招待会。  

     

  中国先贤孔子曾说过:“有朋自远方来,不亦乐乎。”今天我们能邀请到来自世界多国的朋友们出席招待会,深感荣幸。  

     

  当前,国际海底事务仍处在从勘探向开发过渡的关键阶段。上周刚刚结束的理事会会议,各方就深海矿产资源开发规章进行了深入而热烈的讨论,一些问题已达成共识,同时还有许多问题需要进一步研究和探讨。相信理事会的讨论结果将很好地指导随后两周召开的法技委会议。同时,也相信,最终出台的开发规章一定是利益平衡、制度完备、操作性强的法律文件。  

     

  今年是中华人民共和国成立70周年,是海管局成立25周年,也是中国加入《联合国海洋法公约》并成为国际海底管理局成员23周年。中国倡导的构建人类命运共同体,与“国际海底区域及其资源属于人类共同继承财产”原则在理念上完全契合。同时,中国作为发展中国家,积极支持其他发展中国家参与海底事务。多年来,中国持续向管理局自愿信托基金捐款,用以资助发展中国家委员出席法技委和财委会议。今后,中方将继续深入参与国际海底事务,贡献中国力量和智慧,积极支持其他发展中国家参与国际海底事务,继续向海管局有关基金或项目捐款,大力支持海管局25周年纪念活动,共同促进国际海底事业稳步发展。  

     

  中国政府担保的勘探合同承包者严格履行合同义务,并积极参与海管局有关深海环境保护和提升发展中国家能力建设的相关工作。20185月,中国勘探矿区承包者中国大洋协会与海管局在中国青岛联合举办了“西北太平洋海山区区域环境管理计划国际研讨会”,会议成果为在相关海底区域设立区域环境管理计划提供了宝贵基础。1998年以来,中国大洋协会共培训30余位来自巴基斯坦、牙买加、肯尼亚、墨西哥、阿根廷等发展中国家的科学家和工程技术人员。另一位中国承包者五矿集团公司将于2019年4月对4位来自发展中国家的科学家进行海上培训。2018年12月,中国国有企业北京先驱高技术开发公司向海管局秘书长提交了多金属结核勘探工作计划申请。该申请区由具有同等商业价值的两个区块组成,其中一块由海管局留作保留区。该申请由中国政府提供国家担保,并由中华人民共和国财政部出具了相关声明。如该申请获得核准,相信他们也会认真履行勘探合同义务,为国际海底事业的发展贡献自己的力量。  

     

  女士们,先生们,朋友们!  

     

  中方愿与各方一道,本着共商共建共享的精神和原则,致力于促进深海矿产资源开发和深海环境保护的科学平衡,共同推进“人类共同继承财产原则”的落实,为增进全人类的共同利益和共同福祉继续作出贡献。  

  预祝海管局第25届会议和成立25周年庆祝活动圆满成功!

     

  

     

  Address at the Reception in Honour of ISA Officials  

  By H.E. Ambassador TIAN Qi  

  Permanent Representative of China to the International Seabed Authority  

     

  (Kingston, Jamaica, 4 March 2019)  

     

  Your Excellency Mr. Michael Lodge, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority,  

  Mr. Alfonso Ascencio-Herrera, Deputy to the Secretary-General and the Legal Counsel  

  Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives,  

  Members of the LTC and colleagues from the ISA secretariat,  

     

  Good evening. Welcome and thanks for attending the reception.  

     

  Confucius said, What a great pleasure it is to have friends coming from afar! It is indeed a great honour for us to have so many friends of the same line here this evening.  

     

  At present, international seabed affairs are facing a crucial juncture of transition from exploration to exploitation. At the Council session last week, the parties held in-depth discussions on the Regulations for the exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources, reached many consensus, which will properly guide the LTCs work in the following two weeks. We also believe that the final Exploitation Regulations should be a interests-balanced, systematic and operational fine legal document.  

     

  This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of ISA. It is also the 23rd anniversary of Chinas accession to the UNCLOS and member of ISA. Chinas initiative to build a community of shared future for mankind corresponds to the Principle of Common Heritage of Mankind governing the international seabed area and its resources. As a developing country, China actively supports other fellow developing countries in participating in seabed affairs. For many years, China has consistently contributed to the Voluntary Trust Fund of the Authority to finance the participation of developing country members in meetings of the LTC and the Finance Committee. In future, China will continue its deep engagement in international seabed affairs, with Chinese strength and wisdom, to support other developing countries, the relevant funds and projects of ISA and its 25th anniversary celebrations.  

     

  The exploration contractors sponsored by China have strictly fulfilled their contractual obligations and actively participated in ISAs work related to the protection of the deep seabed environment and the improvement of capacity building of developing countries. Last May, COMRA, a Chinese mining-site exploration contractor, and ISA co-hosted in Qingdao, China the International Workshop on the Development of a REMP in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The outcome of the workshop has laid a valuable foundation for the development of REMPs in other related seabed areas. COMRA has trained more than 30 scientists and engineers from other developing countries including Pakistan, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico and Argentina since 1998. China Minmetals Corporation, another Chinese contractor, will start at-sea training for candidates from developing countries this April. On 21 December 2018, Beijing Pioneer Hi-Tech Development Corporation (Beijing Pioneer), a State-owned enterprise, submitted to the ISA Secretary-General an application for a plan of work for exploration in the western Pacific Ocean. The area consists of two parts with equal estimated commercial value, one of which is to be allocated to the Authority as the reserved area. The application is sponsored by Chinese government with a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance of China. If the application is approved, I believe Beijing Pioneer will fulfill the obligations contained in the exploration contract and contribute their strength to the development of the international seabed undertaking.  

     

  Ladies and gentlemen, friends,  

  China is ready to work with all other parties, in accordance with the spirit and principles of wide consultation, joint contribution, shared benefit and scientific balance between the promotion of the exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources and the protection of the deep-sea environment, to promote the implementation of the principle of “the common heritage of mankind” and contribute to the common interest and well-being of mankind.  

     

  I wish the 25th session of ISA and the 25th anniversary celebrations  great success!  

     

  

  

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