Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on April 10, 2026

The Paper: The “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction” (BBNJ Agreement) entered into force in January this year. China has applied to host the secretariat in Xiamen. As the United States has yet to ratify the agreement and is cutting support to the UN budget, some media see this as China taking advantage of the situation to expand its influence in marine governance. How do you respond to this?

Mao Ning: What lies at the heart of multilateralism is the approach of seeking solutions through consultations by all stakeholders, confronting challenges together and sharing opportunities and prosperity, rather than a zero-sum game mentality. The conclusion and entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement is a triumph of multilateralism and a significant milestone in global marine governance. The full and effective implementation of the agreement bears on the common wellbeing of humanity. China, committed to true multilateralism, attaches high importance to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources and stands ready to make new contributions to global marine governance.