On November 8, 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi delivered a speech to the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2023, stressing that China will uphold the vision of building a maritime community with a shared future and work with the international community to build a sea of peace, prosperity and beauty shared by all countries.

Wang Yi said, the ocean is an important foundation for human survival and development. It is also a natural platform for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Strengthening maritime cooperation and improving ocean governance reflect the common aspiration of all countries and represents the general trend of the times. At the same time, the world today has yet to achieve full peace, and the development of the ocean is facing unprecedented risks and challenges.

Wang Yi stressed that the ocean, as a shared home for humanity, requires to be built and protected by human beings. Bearing in mind the shared interests of China and the world and the common well-being of humanity, President Xi Jinping put forward the important vision of building a maritime community with a shared future, which points out the way forward for leading global ocean governance and provides China's proposal for building and protecting a beautiful and prosperous maritime home. To this end, China puts forward a four-point proposal.

First, uphold dialogue and consultation and safeguard maritime peace and tranquility. We need to take seriously the legitimate concerns of all countries. Efforts should be made to resolve disputes through dialogue and conflicts through consultation, improve crisis communication mechanisms, strengthen regional security cooperation, and build a solid foundation for true and lasting maritime security. It is necessary to resolve maritime disputes left over from history by parties directly concerned through friendly consultation, and resist maritime bloc confrontation and zero-sum games.

Second, uphold fairness and justice and improve the ocean governance system. We need to practice true multilateralism and promote fair and equitable international maritime governance. China will continue to fully participate in the formulation of maritime rules and the implementation of governance mechanisms within the framework of the United Nations, and earnestly fulfill its obligations under international laws of the sea, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). At the same time, nearly 30 years after its entry into force, the UNCLOS faces many new issues and challenges. All countries need to seek truth from facts and keep pace with the times to make the UNCLOS more sound and equitable.

Third, uphold ecological conservation as a priority and keep the ocean clean and beautiful. China pursues a green and low-carbon path to development, takes an active part in addressing climate change, preventing disasters and reducing damages, and opposes discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea, making its own contribution to the sustainable development of the global ocean. China actively participated in the negotiations and took the lead in signing the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement. China will adhere to the sustainable use of fishery resources, continue to implement the fishing moratorium system and resolutely crack down on illegal fishing.

Fourth, uphold win-win cooperation and achieve maritime prosperity. We need to pursue mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation to ensure that all parties share development opportunities and benefits. On the basis of the principle of joint contribution and shared benefits, China will work with other parties to build a high-quality maritime Silk Road and forge a blue economy partnership. China will continue to enhance cooperation with other countries in maritime infrastructure construction, secure shipping lanes, and constantly improve maritime connectivity.

The symposium was co-hosted by the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, and the China Oceanic Development Foundation, and was attended by more than 300 people from all walks of life of more than 30 countries.