Focusing on issues related to agreement implementation, the BBNJ International Symposium on Science and Governance was held in Xiamen

China News Service, Xiamen, November 7 (Reporter Ruan Yulin) The BBNJ International Symposium on Science and Governance was recently held in Xiamen.

As the key event of Xiamen Ocean Week 2026, this seminar was hosted by the China Ocean Affairs Administration, the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Institute of Marine Strategy of the Ministry of Natural Resources. It focused on the conservation of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. On issues related to the implementation of the Agreement on Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development (the "BBNJ Agreement"), Chinese and foreign government officials, academicians and experts, representatives of international organizations and non-governmental organizations participated in the meeting in a combination of offline and online methods to build global consensus for the protection and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

On November 5, the BBNJ International Symposium on Science and Governance was held in Xiamen. Photo by Ruan Yulin

The BBNJ Agreement is a milestone treaty in global ocean governance, which builds a new governance framework around four core systems: marine genetic resources, zoning management, environmental impact assessment, capacity building and marine technology transfer. This conference will set up three parallel forums, namely science and collaboration, technology and innovation, and governance and empowerment, to face the practical challenges of contract implementation, build a cross-national and cross-disciplinary dialogue platform, and promote the in-depth integration of science, technology and ocean governance practices.

The "Science and Collaboration" forum focuses on global cutting-edge science. UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the International Seabed Authority, the World Wildlife Fund, and domestic scientific research and maritime representatives jointly discuss cooperation with relevant international instruments, frameworks and institutions (IFBs) to gather synergy in multilateral governance. The "Technology and Innovation" forum focused on the application potential of technological innovation in the fields of high seas biodiversity protection, environmental impact assessment, and marine genetic resources, and discussed issues related to information exchange mechanisms and data sharing.

The "Governance and Empowerment" forum focuses on the practical demands of developing countries in implementing the BBNJ Agreement and shares practical cases of resource mobilization and support for implementation. The roundtable dialogue focused on capacity building and marine technology transfer. Representatives from Seychelles, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and other countries worked with think tank experts to reflect the realistic demands of developing countries and explore implementation paths to narrow the gap in global ocean governance capabilities.

Tang Dongmei, deputy director of the China Ocean Affairs Administration, said that this seminar is not only a centralized exchange of cutting-edge academic results after the BBNJ Agreement comes into effect, but also a collaborative platform to build consensus among all parties and promote the effective implementation of the agreement. He hopes that the majority of scientific and technological workers and stakeholders will rely on the seminar to continue to make efforts in scientific understanding, technological innovation, and international collaboration, and contribute wisdom and strength to promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. (over)