China News Service, Beijing, November 12 (Reporters Zhang Su and Li Jingze) Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning hosted a regular press conference on the 12th.
A reporter asked: Belgium and Chile announced on November 6 that they would merge to host the secretariat of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity, stating that they planned to locate the secretariat in Valparaiso, Chile, the information exchange mechanism in Brussels, Belgium, and use Brussels as the venue for subsidiary body meetings. What is China’s comment on this?
Mao Ning: Since this year, China has nominated Xiamen to bid to host the Secretariat of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity, and within a short period of time it has received support from the majority of the parties to the Agreement.
On November 6, without consulting the majority of parties to the Agreement. Belgium and Chile announced the merger of their bid secretariats, publicly stating that the secretariat would be located in Valparaiso, Chile, the information exchange mechanism would be located in Brussels, Belgium, and Brussels would be the venue for meetings of subsidiary bodies.
This unauthorized handling of matters that should be decided by the Conference of the Parties has at least 6 "non-conformities":
First, it does not comply with the provisions of the agreement. According to the Agreement, the location of the secretariat, the specific establishment and operation mode of the information exchange mechanism, and the location of subsidiary body meetings shall be decided by the Conference of the Parties, and the information exchange mechanism shall be managed by the secretariat. The private transactions between Belgium and Chile are matters that should be subject to collective decision-making by the Parties, which violates the provisions of the Agreement and disrespects the authority of the Conference of the Parties.
Second, it is inconsistent with procedural justice. The location selection of the secretariat and the construction of the information exchange mechanism are two topics of different nature, which will be collectively decided by the Conference of the Parties respectively. The Bichi plan bundles the two in an attempt to force all countries to accept it as a package, which violates the prescribed procedural rules and is also a "kidnapping" of the contracting countries.
Third, it is inconsistent with international practice. Managing the information exchange mechanism is an important responsibility of the Agreement Secretariat. In practice, international treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity have their secretariats and information clearing mechanisms under one roof. For example, according to the Bichi plan, the secretariat and information exchange mechanism of the Agreement will be separated across oceans, which will undoubtedly increase operating costs, affect management efficiency, and increase the financial burden of the contracting parties.
Fourth, it is inconsistent with regional balance. For a long time, most of the world's major international institutions have been located in Europe, and none of them have been located in Asia. The majority of developing countries call on international institutions to correct historical injustices and make them more fair and reasonable. As the seat of the headquarters of NATO and the EU and a non-coastal city, Brussels will further widen the digital divide among developing countries and be detrimental to the common interests of the global South if the information exchange mechanism of the agreement is to be relocated in Brussels.
Fifth, it is inconsistent with fair competition. The mission of the Agreement Secretariat is to contribute to global ocean governance and should be a fair and friendly "gentleman's dispute." The BiZhi plan politicizes and campsizes the bidding work, which not only undermines the principles of fair, friendly, and healthy competition, but also violates the proper meaning of multilateralism.
Sixth, it is inconsistent with the original intention of the promise. Chile originally applied to host the secretariat on behalf of the Global South, but now it does not assume the substantive functions of the secretariat. Belgium only asked for control of the information exchange mechanism and essentially gave up its bid for the secretariat itself.
I would like to emphasize that the adoption and entry into force of the Agreement is a victory for multilateralism, and its implementation should also serve and enhance the common well-being of all mankind. We call on the international community to choose a location that is most conducive to the efficient operation of the Secretariat and the effective implementation of the Agreement. China firmly supports multilateralism and the cause of the United Nations, and firmly promotes the improvement of global ocean governance. As one of the first signatories, a contracting state and the largest contributor to the Agreement, China has the willingness, ability and confidence to provide strong support and guarantee for the operation of the Secretariat, and we are fully prepared. China looks forward to working with all parties to push the secretariat location selection in the right direction and safeguard the overall and fundamental interests of the international community, especially developing countries. (over)
