7月23日至27日,國(guó)際海底管理局(以下簡(jiǎn)稱“海管局”)第24屆大會(huì)會(huì)議在位于牙買加首都金斯敦的海管局總部召開(kāi)。中國(guó)代表團(tuán)團(tuán)長(zhǎng)、常駐國(guó)際海底管理局代表田琦大使率團(tuán)與會(huì),并于7月24日在大會(huì)“秘書(shū)長(zhǎng)報(bào)告”議題下發(fā)言,全文如下:
主席先生,
中國(guó)代表團(tuán)祝賀您當(dāng)選本屆大會(huì)主席,我們將一如既往地支持主席和主席團(tuán)工作,相信在您的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)下,本屆會(huì)議將取得圓滿成功。我們要感謝牙買加政府和人民一直以來(lái)對(duì)國(guó)際海底管理局工作給予的大力協(xié)助和寶貴支持?! ?/p>
主席先生,
中國(guó)代表團(tuán)感謝秘書(shū)長(zhǎng)所作年度報(bào)告。該報(bào)告全面梳理了過(guò)去一年海管局的各項(xiàng)工作。無(wú)論是秘書(shū)處內(nèi)部工作,還是與其他相關(guān)國(guó)際組織開(kāi)展的交流與合作,以及管理勘探合同和制定深海礦產(chǎn)資源開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章等,都取得了顯著成果。中方對(duì)此表示贊賞,并期待海管局工作在未來(lái)取得更大進(jìn)展。
當(dāng)前,國(guó)際海底事務(wù)仍處在從勘探向開(kāi)發(fā)過(guò)渡的關(guān)鍵階段。2017年海管局完成首次國(guó)際海底制度定期審查,并通過(guò)了審查委員會(huì)報(bào)告。報(bào)告中的部分要求已得到有效落實(shí),如改變會(huì)議模式,今年首次舉行兩次海管局理事會(huì)會(huì)議;設(shè)立新的自愿信托基金,資助發(fā)展中國(guó)家理事會(huì)成員參會(huì);加強(qiáng)對(duì)成員國(guó)現(xiàn)行相關(guān)國(guó)內(nèi)法的了解和研究等?! ?/p>
制定戰(zhàn)略計(jì)劃是落實(shí)定期審查報(bào)告的重要內(nèi)容。本次會(huì)議的一項(xiàng)重要任務(wù)就是審議并通過(guò)海管局戰(zhàn)略計(jì)劃。中方認(rèn)為,戰(zhàn)略計(jì)劃是未來(lái)一段時(shí)期海管局工作的頂層設(shè)計(jì),對(duì)推進(jìn)國(guó)際海底事業(yè)向前發(fā)展具有重要意義。正如秘書(shū)長(zhǎng)報(bào)告所列,根據(jù)1994年《執(zhí)行協(xié)定》,海管局在開(kāi)發(fā)工作計(jì)劃獲得核準(zhǔn)前,肩負(fù)著“監(jiān)測(cè)和審查深海底采礦活動(dòng)方面的趨勢(shì)和發(fā)展,包括定期分析世界金屬市場(chǎng)情況和金屬價(jià)格、趨勢(shì)和前景”以及“研究‘區(qū)域’內(nèi)礦物生產(chǎn)對(duì)可能受到最嚴(yán)重影響的這些礦物的發(fā)展中陸上生產(chǎn)國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)可能產(chǎn)生的影響”等法定職責(zé)。這些法定職責(zé)應(yīng)該在戰(zhàn)略計(jì)劃中得到充分體現(xiàn)?! ?/p>
在上周理事會(huì)會(huì)議上,各方就深海礦產(chǎn)資源開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章進(jìn)行了深入而熱烈的討論,不少問(wèn)題已達(dá)成共識(shí),同時(shí)還有許多問(wèn)題需要進(jìn)一步研究和探討。中方始終認(rèn)為,開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章涉及采礦、法律、技術(shù)、環(huán)境等多個(gè)領(lǐng)域,不能一蹴而就,其制定須遵循“充分討論、協(xié)商一致”原則,在具備堅(jiān)實(shí)的事實(shí)和科學(xué)依據(jù)基礎(chǔ)上循序推進(jìn)。開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章本身應(yīng)全面、完整、嚴(yán)格地遵守《公約》和1994年《執(zhí)行協(xié)定》;應(yīng)當(dāng)體現(xiàn)全人類利益、擔(dān)保國(guó)及其承包者利益之間的合理平衡以及深海開(kāi)發(fā)利用與深海環(huán)境保護(hù)之間的合理平衡。開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章的核心目標(biāo)是落實(shí)“人類共同繼承財(cái)產(chǎn)”原則,作為該項(xiàng)原則關(guān)鍵要素的惠益分享應(yīng)該在開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章中作出規(guī)定。此外,企業(yè)部獨(dú)立運(yùn)作對(duì)于發(fā)展中國(guó)家參與“區(qū)域”內(nèi)活動(dòng)具有特殊意義,開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章應(yīng)對(duì)此作出安排?! ?/p>
根據(jù)《公約》,海管局有義務(wù)采取措施,確保海洋環(huán)境不受“區(qū)域”內(nèi)活動(dòng)可能的有害影響。區(qū)域環(huán)境管理計(jì)劃作為一種積極的劃區(qū)管理工具,是海管局在戰(zhàn)略層面采取的重要環(huán)保措施。中方認(rèn)為,開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章應(yīng)對(duì)區(qū)域環(huán)境管理計(jì)劃這一重要環(huán)保事項(xiàng)作出具體規(guī)定;區(qū)域環(huán)境管理計(jì)劃的設(shè)立需要海管局的引領(lǐng)和承包者之間的合作;有關(guān)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)應(yīng)與擬議中的BBNJ國(guó)際協(xié)定談判相協(xié)調(diào)?! ?/p>
主席先生,
中國(guó)積極參與國(guó)際海底事務(wù),先后分別就開(kāi)發(fā)規(guī)章草案和戰(zhàn)略計(jì)劃草案提交書(shū)面評(píng)論意見(jiàn)。中國(guó)重視履行擔(dān)保國(guó)責(zé)任和義務(wù),在2016年《深海海底區(qū)域資源勘探開(kāi)發(fā)法》實(shí)施后,啟動(dòng)了配套法規(guī)的制定工作。中國(guó)國(guó)家海洋局于2017年頒布實(shí)施了三個(gè)涉及“區(qū)域”內(nèi)勘探活動(dòng)的規(guī)范性文件。
中國(guó)作為發(fā)展中國(guó)家,積極支持其他發(fā)展中國(guó)家參與海底事務(wù)。多年來(lái),中國(guó)持續(xù)向管理局自愿信托基金捐款,用以資助發(fā)展中國(guó)家委員出席法技委和財(cái)委會(huì)議。今后,中方將繼續(xù)向海管局有關(guān)基金或項(xiàng)目捐款,支持國(guó)際海底事業(yè)穩(wěn)步發(fā)展?! ?/p>
中國(guó)擔(dān)保的勘探合同承包者嚴(yán)格履行合同義務(wù),并積極參與海管局有關(guān)深海環(huán)境保護(hù)工作。今年5月,中國(guó)勘探礦區(qū)承包者者中國(guó)大洋協(xié)會(huì)與海管局在中國(guó)青島聯(lián)合舉辦了“西北太平洋海山區(qū)區(qū)域環(huán)境管理計(jì)劃國(guó)際研討會(huì)”,會(huì)議成果為在相關(guān)海底區(qū)域設(shè)立區(qū)域環(huán)境管理計(jì)劃提供了寶貴基礎(chǔ)?! ?/p>
主席先生,
中方倡導(dǎo)構(gòu)建人類命運(yùn)共同體,與國(guó)際海底區(qū)域及其資源屬于人類共同繼承財(cái)產(chǎn)原則密不可分。中方愿與各方一道,本著共商共建共享的精神和原則,致力于促進(jìn)深海礦產(chǎn)資源開(kāi)發(fā)和深海環(huán)境保護(hù),為增進(jìn)全人類的共同利益和共同福祉作出貢獻(xiàn)。
參考譯文:
Mr. President,
The Chinese delegation congratulates you on your election to the presidency of the current session of the Assembly. As always, we will support you and the Bureau in your work. It is my conviction that, under your able leadership, the current session will be crowned with success. We wish to thank the Jamaican government and people for the enormous assistance and valuable support that they have accorded ISA over the years.
Mr. President,
The Chinese delegation wishes to thank the Secretary-General for the annual report which covers the full spectrum of work of the International Seabed Authority over the past year. Notable results have been achieved, ranging from the internal work of the Secretariat to the exchange and cooperation with other international organizations, and from the management of exploration contracts to the development of regulations governing the exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources. The Chinese government registers its appreciations and expects ISA to achieve greater progress in future.
As we speak, international seabed affairs are still at a crucial juncture of transitioning from exploration to exploitation. In 2017, ISA completed its first periodic review of the international seabed regime and adopted the report of the review committee. To date, part of the requirements contained in the report has been met effectively, ranging from changing the format of meetings as a result of which two sessions of the Council have been held this year, a first in history, to establishing a new voluntary trust fund to finance the attendance of Council members from developing countries, and to boosting the understanding of and study on related current domestic laws of Member States.
Developing a strategic plan is an important area related to the implementation of the report on the periodic review. One of the most important tasks facing the current session is to consider and adopt the strategic plan of the Authority. In China’s view, the strategic plan represents top-level design of the work of the Authority for the years to come, with an important bearing on advancing the international seabed undertaking. As is stated in the Secretary-General’s report, according to the 1994 Implementing Agreement, prior to the approval of a plan of work for exploitation, ISA shoulders such mandated responsibilities as“monitoring and review of trends and developments relating to deep seabed mining activities, including regular analysis of world metal market conditions and metal prices, trends and prospects” as well as“study of the potential impact of mineral production from the Area on the economies of developing land-based producers of those minerals which are likely to be most seriously affected”. All these statutory responsibilities should be fully reflected in the Strategic Plan.
At the Council session last week, the parties held in-depth and animated discussions on the Regulations on exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources, with consensus reached on many issues while many others still warrant further studies and exploration. It has always been China’s view that as the Exploitation Regulations concern many a field, from mining to law, technology and environment, the development of the Regulations simply cannot be accomplished overnight, and can only progress in a sequential manner on the solid basis of facts and scientific evidence and in accordance with the principle of“extensive discussion and consensus through consultations”. The Exploitation Regulations should be comprehensive and complete, based on scrupulous compliance with UNCLOS and the 1994 Implementing Agreement while reflecting the reasonable balance between the interests of mankind as a whole and those of the sponsoring States and their contractors as well as the reasonable balance between deep-sea exploitation/use and deep-sea environmental protection. The core objective of the Exploitation Regulations is to apply the“common heritage of mankind” principle while stipulations should be made in the Regulations on benefit-sharing, which is a core element of this principle. In addition, as the independent operation of the Enterprise is of special significance for the participation of developing countries in activities in the Area, specific arrangements should be made thereon in the Regulations.
Under the Convention, the Authority has the obligation to take measures to ensure that the marine environment does not suffer from the harmful effect that may arise from activities in the Area. As a tool for active regional management, regional environmental management plans (REMPs) constitute an important environmental protection measure adopted by the Seabed Authority at the strategic level. China believes that the Exploitation Regulations should specify as an important priority for environmental protection the REMPs whose development requires ISA’s leadership and cooperation among the contractors; the relevant standards should be aligned with the proposed international agreement under the BBNJ negotiations.
Mr. President,
As an active participant in international seabed affairs, China has submitted written comments on the draft Exploitation Regulations and the draft Strategic Plan respectively. China attaches great importance to fulfilling its responsibilities and obligations as a sponsoring State. After the promulgation of the Law on the Exploration for and Exploitation of Resources in the Deep Seabed Area in 2016, formulation of supporting legal regulations ensued. In 2017, the State Oceanic Administration of China promulgated three normative documents covering exploration activities in the Area.
As a developing country, China actively supports other fellow developing countries in participating in seabed affairs. For many years, China has continued to contribute to the Voluntary Trust Fund of the Authority to finance the participation of developing country members in meetings of the LTC and the Finance Committee. In future, China will continue to contribute to relevant funds or projects of the Authority in support of the steady development of the international seabed undertaking.
The exploration contractors sponsored by China have strictly fulfilled their contractual obligations and actively participated in ISA’s work for the protection of the deep seabed environment. Last May, COMRA, a Chinese mining-site exploration contractor, and ISA co-hosted in Qingdao, China the International Workshop on the Development of a REMP for Cobalt-rich Ferromaganese Crusts in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The outcome of the workshop has laid a valuable foundation for the development of REMPs in other related seabed areas.
Mr. President,
The building of a community with shared future for mankind that China advocates is closely connected with the principle that the international seabed area and its resources are part and parcel of the common heritage of mankind. China is ready to work with all other parties, in keeping with the spirit and principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, in a concerted effort to promote the exploitation of deep-sea mineral resources and protection of the deep-sea environment, and to contribute to the common interests and well-being of mankind.