Xinhua News Agency, Paris, May 6

Joint Statement of China and France on Strengthening Cooperation on Biodiversity and Oceans: Kunming-Montreal to Nice

1. As maritime countries and major biodiversity countries, China and France reaffirm their special responsibility and common ambition to protect marine and coastal ecosystems. China, as the chair country, successfully hosted the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (hereinafter referred to as "COP15"), which adopted the "Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework" (hereinafter referred to as "Kunming-Montreal Framework"). The framework establishes the following goals: by 2030, at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water, marine and coastal areas will be effectively protected and managed through the establishment of ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs); by 2030, at least 30% of degraded terrestrial and inland water ecosystems, marine and coastal ecosystems will be restored.

2. France is willing to continue the path set by COP15 and will co-host the next UN Ocean Conference with Costa Rica in Nice in June 2025. Faced with the absolute emergency of the ocean, the UN Ocean Conference will be an action summit based on concrete commitments and a comprehensive roadmap for ocean action. The action goals of the Kunming-Montreal Framework and the specific goals of SDG 14 complement each other: taking pollution into account, protecting and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems, developing fishing norms, addressing ocean acidification, and promoting sustainable development.

3. In order to strengthen the common ambition to conserve and protect biodiversity and the ocean, the two countries adopted the following joint statement:

4. China and France plan to take relevant actions in accordance with international conventions ratified by the two countries, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. The two countries support the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).

5. The two countries recognize the importance of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond Areas of National Jurisdiction (hereinafter referred to as the "BBNJ Agreement"), which is one of the pillars of inclusive and comprehensive international ocean governance. The two countries commit to contribute to the early entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement and encourage all countries to take similar actions.

I. Conserve, protect and restore marine and coastal biodiversity and promote environmental multilateralism

6. China and France reaffirm the commitment made in Montreal in December 2022 to effectively protect and manage at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water, marine and coastal areas by 2030 through the establishment of ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed protected areas and other effective regional protection measures; by 2030, at least 30% of degraded terrestrial and inland water ecosystems, marine and coastal ecosystems will be restored. The two countries recognize that marine protected areas and other effective regional protection measures are an important way to achieve the above goals and will promote the implementation of relevant measures. In addition, the two countries commit to implement the COP15 decision on the multilateral mechanism for benefit sharing from digital sequence information of genetic resources and to closely follow the participatory and inclusive process on this issue.

7. Recognizing that there are only six years left to implement the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Framework, the two countries announced their revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans to align them with the long-term goals and action targets of the Kunming-Montreal Framework. The two countries will highlight the ocean-related parts of their national strategies and action plans and the specific actions taken for this purpose at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.

8. China and France are willing to strengthen cooperation between their national institutions responsible for the conservation, protection and restoration of marine and coastal biodiversity. In the dialogue on the law of the sea and polar affairs, the two countries share knowledge and best practices, especially on science-based governance, connectivity and effective management models for marine protected areas and other effective regional conservation measures, in order to implement the BBNJ Agreement in conjunction with the Kunming-Montreal Framework. The above-mentioned dialogue will help ensure the follow-up and implementation of this statement.

9. In the framework of the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement, the two countries commit to carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation for the establishment of protected areas and other area-based management tools in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement. The two countries commit to actively work within the organizations they participate in to promote the goals of the BBNJ Agreement and strengthen coordination among various institutions. The two countries reaffirm their consensus on the provisions of the Agreement, including Article 18. The two countries commit to promote the entry into force and subsequent implementation of the Agreement on this basis, and commit to help develop and implement an effective multilateral solution to share the benefits of genetic resources in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement.

10. Recognizing the important role of the ocean in carbon storage and sequestration, the two countries will cooperate to finance the restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, including wetlands, which play a vital role in addressing climate change.

11. The two countries are committed to the work of the International Seabed Authority and believe that it is necessary to ensure that appropriate marine environmental impact assessments are carried out before any deep seabed mining activities, that risks are understood, and that technical and operational methods comply with relevant regulations, and that the International Seabed Authority develops appropriate rules, regulations and procedures based on the best available scientific knowledge and in accordance with the precautionary and ecosystem approaches. The two countries encourage scientific exploration under the framework of the International Seabed Authority and strengthen cooperation to this end.

II. Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

12. The two countries commit to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and advocate this practice in relevant international organizations. The two countries commit to promote the strengthening of control and monitoring measures in the regional fisheries management organizations to which they are members.

13. The two countries support efforts on this issue in the World Trade Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The two countries commit to implement the World Trade Organization's agreement on fisheries subsidies. China is actively studying joining the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) aimed at preventing, deterring and eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

14. The two countries also recognize that combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing has a cross-sectoral nature and will actively participate in the relevant work of the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization to ensure the safety of fishing vessels.

15. Before the United Nations Ocean Conference, the two countries will explore the prospects for cooperation in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. China is willing to actively consider sending personnel to participate in relevant fishery activities during the United Nations Ocean Conference.

III. Pollution Prevention

16. The two countries commit to prevent and reduce pollution factors - whether chemical, plastic or other types of pollution - and their related risks to biodiversity. The two countries will pay particular attention to reducing the impact of the above pollution on marine and coastal biodiversity.

17. The two countries will work to end plastic pollution based on a comprehensive approach. To this end, the two countries commit to actively promote the reduction of plastic production and use at the source, prohibit and reduce the production and consumption of certain disposable plastics, implement the "reduce, reuse, recycle" approach, and develop relevant supporting infrastructure.

18. The two countries recognize the importance of UNEA Resolution 5/14 (UNEP/EA.5/Res.14), which authorizes negotiations to develop an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution; recognize the positive progress made at INC1 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, INC2 in Paris, France, INC3 in Nairobi, Kenya, and INC4 in Ottawa, Canada, and support efforts to reach an ambitious and implementable agreement during INC5 to be held in Busan, South Korea. The progress of these negotiations will be highlighted at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.

19. The two countries recognize the importance of UNEA Resolution 5/8 (UNEP/EA.5/Res.8), which authorizes an open-ended ad hoc working group to consider the establishment of a science and policy committee on the sound management of chemicals and wastes and the prevention of pollution. The two countries expressed satisfaction with the results of the first round of working group meetings at the end of January 2023, and supported the completion of the work of the ad hoc open-ended working group from now until the end of 2024, and looked forward to the establishment of a broad-based independent science and policy committee covering chemicals and waste pollution as soon as possible.

20. The two countries pledged to jointly promote the implementation of the global chemicals framework adopted at the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management held in Bonn.

Fourth, Financing the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14

21. The two countries recognize that there is still a funding gap in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 and the protection of biodiversity, and reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement Sustainable Development Goal 14 now and increase collective ambition by the end of 2025.

22. In accordance with the relevant decisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the two countries will promote a substantial increase in funding for biodiversity conservation from all sources, including funding from national, international, public and private resources, including international funding for biodiversity conservation provided by developed countries and Parties that voluntarily implement developed country commitments to developing countries, especially the least developed countries, small island developing States and countries with economies in transition, to at least US$20 billion per year globally by 2025 and at least US$30 billion per year globally by 2030; mobilizing all sources of funds, including multilateral development banks and the private sector. The two countries will earmark part of these funds for the protection of marine and coastal biodiversity. The two countries welcome the positive contribution of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to biodiversity financing. China welcomes the commitment of France and the European Union to double their international funding for the promotion of biodiversity. The two countries will support the operationalization of the Global Biodiversity Framework Trust Fund established within the Global Environment Facility. The two countries will also pay special attention to the implementation of the parts of Target 15 of the Kunming-Montreal Framework for Action on reporting by large multinational corporations, transnational corporations and financial institutions on their impacts, dependencies and risks to biodiversity.

23. The two countries will exchange views on the financing of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 before the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference. To address the funding gap, the two countries will prepare a joint financial report in accordance with Target 14.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 14, with a special focus on small island developing States.

V. Development of Ocean-related Scientific Knowledge

24. The two countries support the "United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development" (2021-2030). The two countries firmly believe that research in marine science and marine technology is essential for the conservation and protection of marine and coastal biodiversity, and the two countries will strengthen scientific cooperation and exchanges between university students and researchers.

25. The two countries will pay special attention to the study of the cumulative effects of human threats to the marine environment, such as ocean acidification or pollution. This cooperation will also extend to the humanities and social sciences, such as sociology, history, law, economics, geography and urban planning.

26. The two countries will support the establishment of an International Panel on Promoting Ocean Sustainability (IPOS) in the consultation process of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which will work in cooperation with the United Nations World Ocean Assessment (WOA) under the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

27. The short-term goal of IPOS is to establish an international platform that will integrate existing ocean knowledge and recommendations for the first time in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Its purpose is to develop tools to simulate future ocean behavior, make recommendations and discuss them by multiple parties.

28. Regarding the polar regions, the two countries recognize the need for ambitious international scientific cooperation and the need to continue efforts within the organizations of the Antarctic Treaty system (Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources), especially in the areas of environmental protection, resource conservation and biodiversity.

VI. Greening of Maritime Transport

29. Maritime transport accounts for more than 80% of the total value of global cargo transportation, and also produces 2.89% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the two countries hope to cooperate in improving the energy efficiency of ships and ports and energy transformation.

30. The two countries are jointly committed to implementing the "2023 Strategy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships" adopted by the International Maritime Organization. The two countries believe that in accordance with the relevant rules of the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, under the framework of the International Maritime Organization, through global coordinated policies, joint efforts should be made, and technical and market measures should be studied to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry and enhance the competitiveness of sustainable alternative energy.

31. The two countries believe that the use of shore power by ships at port is one of the key solutions to reduce the environmental impact of ship docking, and will encourage investment in shore power infrastructure. The two countries will encourage the transition from traditional fossil energy to new low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel technologies.

32. China notes that France has signed the "Clydebank Declaration" to establish a "green shipping corridor", that is, to form a decarbonized route between two or more ports through the development of energy sources, infrastructure and zero-emission ships.

VII. Cooperation in the Blue Economy

33. The two countries recognize that the oceans and coasts are the basis of a large part of the global economy. By 2030, the value generated by the blue economy is expected to reach 3 trillion US dollars. The two countries emphasize the need to maintain sustainable economic activities related to the oceans and coasts that respect the environment. In this regard, the two countries intend to cooperate in sustainable coastal tourism.

34. The two countries encourage their respective financial institutions to cooperate in the field of blue finance.

35. The two countries exchanged views on marine renewable energy production, especially the rapidly developing offshore wind power and floating wind power in the two countries, as well as tidal energy and wave energy through the energy dialogue.

36. Seaweed production has the potential to contribute to a 10% increase in world food resources, and contribute to the fertilizer, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. It is also a major carbon sink. Therefore, the two countries will promote exchanges between the two countries in the fields of aquaculture and seaweed farming.

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