Thank you, Mr. President.

The Chinese delegation wishes to thank the Secretary-General for his reports under Article 319 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In the past year, the International Seabed Authority, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the three major bodies of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, have made positive progress in their work. I wish to offer my congratulations and thank the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea for its diligent work to this end.

At present, the affairs of international oceans and the law of the sea are faced with many new developments, and problems and challenges. I would like to take this opportunity to share China's perspective with the following thoughts and views.

Firstly, we should have the sense of a community of shared future for mankind in promoting the sustainable development of the ocean. The ocean is the cradle of human civilization. It is our common homeland and a precious space for achieving sustainable development. The protection and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources have become an important goal of the 2030 sustainable development agenda of the United Nations. At present, the roles of oceans in carrying international trade, safeguarding navigation safety and security, promoting scientific and technological innovation, supporting sustainable economic growth, and providing ecological services are increasingly prominent. At the same time, the global ocean is facing severe challenges such as climate change, acidification, and environmental pollution. Security risks resulting from maritime navigation and various maritime criminal activities are on the rise. These are the crises and challenges from which no country or region can remain unscathed, which require the international community to address collectively. China attaches great importance to the joint efforts on marine conservation and sustainable use within the framework of the Convention, advocating the vision of an "innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development" and the concept of marine ecological civilization with human and sea in harmony. China is willing to work with all parties to build a community of shared future in ocean area and jointly and actively advance the achievement of the SDGs of the United Nations with a strong sense of responsibility and purpose.

Secondly, we should promote the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits,and steadily advance international ocean governance. At present, important international ocean legislative initiatives involving elaboration the text of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and the development of the regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the deep seabed area are steadily advancing. The biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction and the international seabed area and its resources therein bear on the overall interests of the international community. Parties should hold extensive consultations on international maritime rules, jointly contribute to a global ocean governance system, and share the benefits of sustainable marine development and environmental protection. By "extensive consultation", we mean that related negotiations should be carried out step by step on the basis of full discussion and consensus, fully taking into account the interests and concerns of all countries, and in particular the actual needs of developing countries for the legitimate use of marine life and mineral resources. By joint contribution, we mean that the relevant institutional arrangements should be based on the "Convention" as the greatest common denominator, fully reflecting the concerns of all parties, with a solid scientific foundation and legal basis, and without impairing the existing institutional framework of the Convention. By shared benefits, we mean that the future institutional arrangements should include fair and reasonable benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure that relevant marine resources benefit the entire international community.

And thirdly, we should uphold the principle of the international rule of law in maintaining a fair and just international ocean order. The sustainable development of the ocean cannot materialize without a fair and just international ocean order. The Convention provides a legal framework for countries to carry out marine activities with a balance of rights and obligations for all in terms of peaceful use and protection of the oceans. The rights thus enjoyed by each country should be fully respected. Both national and international judicial bodies should uphold the purposes and principles of the Convention in their interpretation and application of the Convention and its dispute settlement mechanisms in good faith, comprehensively and completely, and respect the legitimate rights of a country to choose its own peaceful means of dispute settlement. China attaches importance to the duties and functions of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and the International Seabed Authority in maintaining the authority and integrity of the Convention, and will continue to actively support the work of these three major organs of the Convention.

Mr. President,

The Meeting of States Parties to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is not a proper place to talk about the South China Sea issue. Since the issue was mentioned, I would like to reiterate China's position on this issue.

At present, the situation in the South China Sea continues to improve, and the South China Sea issue has returned to the track of resolving disputes through negotiations and consultations between countries directly concerned. Under the framework of full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea (DOC), China and ASEAN countries have positively promoted the consultation on a code of conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Building on the agreement on the framework of the COC, the consultation has entered text consultation stage. Regional countries have the will, wisdom and ability to properly handle the South China Sea issue and achieve long-term stability, development and prosperity in the region.

Mr. President,

As a developing oceanic country, China has been and will always be the defender of the international law of the sea, the builder of the harmonious ocean order, and the promoter of sustainable development of the ocean. The "Belt and Road" initiative launched by China, in particular the initiative to build a "21st Century Maritime Silk Road" will effectively promote the development of bilateral and multilateral international cooperation involving the oceans and seas. Looking into the future, China is willing to work together with all countries to meet the challenges related to the ocean and promote its sustainable development on the basis of mutual respect, equity, justice and win-win cooperation, following the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and in the spirit of the Silk Road.

Thank you, Mr. President.