Special envoy: Xiamen ideal to host BBNJ Secretariat

"The BBNJ Agreement requires a secretariat commensurate with its importance and promising future, and China's bid to host the secretariat in Xiamen would offer greater certainty and stability for global ocean governance," said Yi Xianliang, special envoy for BBNJ Secretariat Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an interview with China Daily.

China nominated Xiamen in Fujian province on the eve of the agreement coming into force on Jan 17, 2026. The city joined two other bidders, Brussels and Valparaiso, which were nominated by Belgium and Chile respectively.

The decision on the seat of the secretariat will be made at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement in January 2027.

Formally known as 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, the BBNJ Agreement was adopted by consensus at the UN Headquarters in New York on June 19, 2023, after 19 years of negotiations.

The agreement applies to the high seas and the international seabed area, which together account for two-thirds of global ocean coverage. It focuses on four areas: marine genetic resources; area-based management tools; environmental impact assessments; and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.

Yi described the agreement's new regimes as an achievement in the development of the modern law of the sea, which would help to shape a fairer and more equitable international maritime order. It carries profound political significance at a time when multilateralism and the international rule of law face serious challenges, he said.

China participated throughout the negotiations, contributing to a practical and balanced outcome, according to Yi. China signed the agreement on the first day it was opened for signature, and deposited the instrument of ratification with the UN secretary-general on Dec 15, 2025, becoming one of its first parties when it took effect.

According to Yi, hosting the secretariat in China would advance the UN's ocean-related sustainable development goal. China's experience in protecting and restoring marine ecosystems and its capabilities in deep-sea and distant-ocean activities would also help to fulfill the agreement's dual objectives of the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity.

Yi also pointed to the geographical distribution of international institutions. Asia accounts for approximately 60 percent of the world's population, while most UN bodies and global treaty institutions are located in Europe and the Americas, he noted. Hosting the BBNJ Secretariat in China would help make global governance more balanced and inclusive, enabling Asia and the Global South to make greater contributions.

Maritime edge

Turning to the choice of host city, Yi cited Xiamen's maritime heritage, environmental protection record, marine research capabilities and international cooperation as advantages.

Xiamen, a nexus on the Maritime Silk Road and a "garden city on the sea", has 265 kilometers of coastline and more than 70 square kilometers of national nature reserves for rare marine species in its coastal waters, where Chinese white dolphins are frequently spotted, he said.

The city's research strengths include nearly 5,000 marine researchers and 30 marine science and technology research platforms. It hosts the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center and the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Center. The Xiamen World Ocean Week has been held in the city for 20 consecutive years, with the cumulative number of participants from around the world exceeding 2 million, Yi noted.

Following the launch of a direct service to London in early September, Xiamen has almost 30 international passenger air routes, he said, also citing its high-quality medical services, educational resources and relatively low living costs.

On support for the secretariat, Yi said that China has prepared a fully equipped 15-story office building and two supporting buildings in Xiamen on a long-term, free-of-charge basis, which will allow the secretariat to move in immediately.

To support the participation of representatives from developing countries in relevant meetings, China will contribute $3 million to the voluntary trust fund under the agreement. It will also contribute to the special fund to support capacity-building activities related to the agreement's implementation, he said.

Yi also highlighted the bid's significance for the Global South, saying that it would help increase the representation and influence of developing countries in global ocean governance.

"China is ready, Xiamen is ready," he said. "Choosing China means choosing a future of greater certainty and stability for global governance."