Coexisting in Harmony and Working Together to Bring Global Ocean Governance to a Higher Level

– Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi at?the?Opening?Ceremony?of?the?Symposium?on?Global?Maritime?Cooperation?and?Ocean?Governance 2024

November 26, 2024

Distinguished Guests,

Friends,

Good morning! On behalf of the Chinese government, I extend warm congratulations on the successful convening of the Symposium?and a warm welcome to the representatives, experts, scholars, and media friends from various countries and international organizations.

Across?the world, changes of our?times and of historical significance?are unfolding like never before. Global governance is facing brand-new opportunities?and challenges. A few months?ago, at the Third Plenary Session of its?20th Central Committee, the Communist Party of China called for?“promoting?a community with a shared future?for mankind, committing?to humanity’s?common values, and pursuing the Global Development Initiative?(GDI), the Global Security Initiative?(GSI)?and the Global Civilization Initiative?(GCI).”?This is identified as an important task for?China in further deepening?reform comprehensively and?advancing?Chinese modernization.?It is also China’s answer?to bridging?the global development gap, addressing?international security challenges?and breaking?down the barriers to inter-civilization?exchanges – a proposal that serves the common interests of the entire humanity.

The ocean nurtures life, connects the world, and facilitates?development. Improving?global ocean governance and building?a maritime?community with a shared future is essential to building a?community with a shared future?for mankind.?Committed to implementing the GDI, the GSI and the GCI proposed by President Xi Jinping, China is ready?to work with all countries?to pursue?higher-level global ocean governance to better serve the?well-being of mankind. For this purpose, the Chinese side?would like to propose?the following.

First, we should advance high-quality and sustainable development?of the ocean. The U.N.’s?2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set out?targets on?the sustainable development?of the ocean for the first time, a milestone?in the history of human development. The development of the ocean should benefit the whole?mankind, especially developing countries, and serve the?harmonious coexistence between humans and the marine eco-environment. By?expanding?maritime practical cooperation, and tapping?into the potential of the ocean fully, we can turn?the ocean?into?an inexhaustible source of sustainable development for all. China is willing to share its?ocean development achievements and experiences?with all countries, work for even closer blue partnerships, build the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road to?high standards, and jointly promote the high-quality,?sustainable development and prosperity of the ocean.

Second, we should safeguard?universal and sustainable maritime security. Humanity lives in?a community?where our security is closely linked.?Maintaining peace and tranquility at?sea?is the shared?responsibility of the international community.?Specific disputes over territorial and maritime rights?and interests?should be resolved peacefully through friendly consultations by?parties directly concerned. International law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea must be complied with. Siding with?allies indiscriminately with no regard for what is right and what is wrong will find no international support. Ignoring?basic facts and?infringing on other’s?sovereign rights and interests in the name?of law will?end in failure. China is prepared?to work with relevant countries to properly handle?maritime differences through negotiations and consultations, maintain peace and stability at sea, and promote lasting ocean security.

Third, we should promote inter-civilization?exchanges?on?maritime outlook.?We live on this?blue planet not as?islands divided by the ocean, but in a community with a shared future?connected by the ocean. Historically, exchanges and mutual learning between?civilizations have?enhanced?mutual understanding, bridged differences, inspired?mutual?learning, and energized common development. We should respect the role of all civilizations in global maritime affairs, break?the longtime monopoly of a few countries over maritime?discourse, and reject?forming camps along the?ideological line?or?stoking bloc confrontation. Instead, we should be more ready to learn and draw on all the fine?achievements of human civilization, and expand?vigorously its?space for development and progress. An?open and inclusive?attitude?is in the genes?of the Chinese nation. We are willing to work with all parties to strengthen maritime cultural exchanges and cooperation, carry forward and renew our?maritime civilizations with innovative ideas, and foster?a global maritime civilization outlook that conforms to?the trend of our?times.

Friends,

China believes firmly that enhancing dialogue and cooperation, maintaining maritime?peace and stability, and advancing global ocean governance represent the general?consensus and the prevailing sentiment?of the international community.?China’s?vision of?building a maritime?community with a shared future and its outlook on global ocean governance featuring?extensive consultation?and?joint?contribution for?shared benefit?go with?the historical trend of human development.?As a Chinese saying goes, “All rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full.”?China is ready to work?hand in hand with the international community to turn?the ocean into a place?of peace and tranquility, a source of prosperity and development, and a platform of inter-civilization exchange and?integration?shared by all countries of?the world.

I wish the Symposium a full?success. Thank you!

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