Antigua and Barbuda's First Minister of the Blue Economy Athill Dean Jonas expressed support for China's bid to host the secretariat of a landmark United Nations ocean treaty, saying the move could strengthen international marine governance and deepen cooperation with small island developing states.
Speaking to China Daily during the 2026 World Ocean Week in Xiamen, Fujian province, Jonas said China's experience in marine conservation, ocean technology and renewable energy offers valuable opportunities for Caribbean countries seeking to protect their marine resources and build more resilient economies.
Jonas endorsed Xiamen's proposal to host the secretariat of 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, known as the BBNJ Agreement.
The treaty, which entered into force in January, is the third implementing agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It addresses a long-standing gap in the international framework for conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
Xiamen is competing with Brussels, Belgium, and Valparaiso, Chile, to host the secretariat, with a final decision scheduled for the first Conference of the Parties in January 2027.
"The proposal could benefit island countries across the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific, while supporting wider global cooperation," Jonas said. "I hope that Xiamen can get it done so that everyone will benefit globally."
For Caribbean nations, stronger ocean cooperation has direct economic significance, Jonas said. The region's dependence on tourism makes healthy coastlines, coral reefs and marine ecosystems essential to livelihoods and long-term prosperity. Environmental degradation therefore threatens both natural resources and the economic foundations of island communities.
He pointed to China's work in mangrove restoration, including in coastal cities such as Xiamen, as a source of practical lessons for the Caribbean. He also highlighted opportunities to learn from China's monitoring, early-warning and mitigation approaches to marine algal blooms, as well as its research and technology related to coral bleaching.
"Such cooperation could help Caribbean countries strengthen their capacity to anticipate environmental pressures and respond more effectively," he said.
Jonas also identified renewable energy as a priority for closer collaboration. Many Caribbean island states remain heavily dependent on imported fuel for diesel-based electricity generation, while China's expertise in solar and wind power, combined with battery storage, could support the region's transition toward greater energy security.
"In terms of using indigenous energy, I think China has the expertise that could bring a lot of changes in the Caribbean," he said.
Beyond energy, Jonas highlighted the need to expand Caribbean expertise in ocean farming, artificial intelligence and other technologies that can support sustainable marine industries. He said cooperation based on noninterference and mutual benefit could provide a solid foundation for partnership, connecting Chinese technical expertise with Caribbean development priorities.
He also expressed strong expectations for the Integrating MSP (Marine Spatial Planning) and Blue Economy in the Caribbean project under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Led by China's National Ocean Technology Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the project was approved by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in June. It aims to strengthen climate resilience in the Caribbean and support the development of sustainable marine industries through marine spatial planning and blue economy cooperation.
"Closer China-Caribbean cooperation offers a practical opportunity to translate ocean science and technology into healthier marine ecosystems, stronger local capacity and more resilient island economies," Jonas said.
