The 8th International Symposium on Scientific and Legal Aspects of the Regimes of the Continental Shelf and the Area was held in Xiamen from May 25 to 26. Remarks were delivered by Mr. Sun Shuxian, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration, Ms. Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (via video), Mr. Estevão Pale, Minister of the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique, and Mr. Wu Bin, Mayor of Xiamen Municipal People’s Government.
Co-organizers of the symposium are the State Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience of SIO, and the Institute of Marine Development Strategy under the MNR. Representatives from the three main bodies established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, as well as experts and scholars from numerous countries attended the event.
Sun Shuxian, Vice Minister of the MNR, China, Delivered Remarks Sun Shuxian stated that China stands ready to work with all parties to uphold the authority of multilateral governance, earnestly abide by international law including the UNCLOS, respect the statutory functions of its three bodies, and advance efforts to improve the global ocean governance. China will deepen exchanges and cooperation in scientific research, empower ocean governance through scientific and technological innovation, promote the implementation of relevant rules, and conduct coordinated reviews and consultations on treaty implementation, jointly safeguard marine ecological security and strengthen international cooperation on marine ecological conservation. Hua Chunying pointed out in her video address that with regard to global governance in the maritime sector, China calls on all parties to practice multilateralism, uphold the rule of law in international relations, and advance pragmatic cooperation. Firmly committed to multilateralism and the work of the United Nations, China has both the will and capability to make important contributions.
Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, delivered a keynote address
Aldino Campos, Chair of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, delivered a keynote address
Tomas Heidar, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, delivered a keynote address At the symposium, keynote addresses were presented by Leticia Reis de Carvalho, Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority; Aldino Campos, Chair of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf; Tomas Heidar, President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea; Vladimir Jares, Director of the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; and Chen Danhong, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation, MNR. Experts from participating countries held in-depth exchanges and discussions from scientific and legal perspectives, focusing on the evolution, existing problems and challenges of regimes of the continental shelf and the international seabed area. New topics concerning cutting-edge submarine science and technology and global ocean governance were added to the agenda, expanding both the breadth and depth of the discussions.
Vladimir Jares, Director of the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, delivered a keynote address
Chen Danhong, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources, delivered a keynote address First launched in 2010, the International Symposium on Scientific and Legal Aspects of Regimes of the Continental Shelf and the Area has been playing a vital role in facilitating exchanges among international organizations, government authorities, experts and scholars, deepening understanding of issues related to the continental shelf and international seabed area, and promoting the interpretation and application of the regime established under the UNCLOS.