On October 21, 2022, Amb. Chen Daojiang, China’s Permanent Representative to the ISA, met with Michael Lodge, Secretary-General of the ISA at the Residence of China’s Ambassador. The ISA’s Chief of Staff and Head of Strategic Planning Unit, Marie Bourrel-McKinnon, Legal Counsel, Mariana Durney, and Director of the office of Environmental Management and Mineral Resources, Jose Dallo Moros and other ISA staff were present. China and the ISA exchanged views on the main topics of the 27th Session of the ISA Council, Part III, and on strengthening bilateral practical cooperation.

Amb. Chen highly appreciated ISA’s excellent contribution to developing international seabed mineral resources exploitation regulations, protecting marine environment, and enhancing developing countries’ capacity to engage in deep sea affairs, and expressed thanks for ISA’s relentless efforts for ensuring its members’ and stakeholders’ deep engagement in the sessions. International seabed affairs is in transition from a focus on exploration to exploitation, and we are at a critical point as there is only less than one year left for finishing developing exploitation regulations. This moment calls for close cooperation to advance the development of exploitation regulations. Stakeholders, including China, have conducted deep discussions on exploitation regulations at the 27th Session of the ISA Council, Part I and Part II, and the Assembly, and have achieved many common understandings. China will also continue participating actively in the Session of ISA, Part III, and work with all parties to promote its negotiations to make more progress.

Amb. Chen said the 27th Session of the ISA Council, Part III, is coming. This session will have further negotiations on exploitation regulations; and it will review the implementation of the exploitation regulations development roadmap and decide the main directions of exploitation regulations development in the next step, which is of key importance. China expects all parties to return to Jamaica Conference Center and help the Council to make more abundant constructive achievements under professional session support, leading the 27th Session of the ISA to a successful end. China would also like to strengthen communication with the ISA to truly promote the development of fair and reasonable deep sea exploitation institutions with the equal rights and responsibilities and advance the deep sea cause.

Secretary-General Michael Lodge appreciated China’s contribution to the ISA sessions and exploitation regulations negotiations, expressed thanks to China’s consistent support for the ISA, and introduced the Secretariat’s preparations for ensuring a successful convention of the 27th Session of the ISA Council, Part III. The ISA would like to maintain close contact and deep cooperation in aspects including exploitation regulations development, developing countries’ capacity building, and international talents cultivation.

During the meeting, Amb. Chen also presented the English version of XI Jingping: the Governance of China IV as a gift to Secretary-General Lodge.