Reflections from Madam Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho on ISA Engagements in China

Last month, I had the privilege of paying my first official visit to China as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, together with colleagues from the Office of Contracts Management and Capacity Building and the Office of Stewardship, Environment and Resources.  The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to strengthen partnerships, engage with government and industry leaders, and reaffirm our shared commitment to the sustainable management of activities in the Area for the benefit of all humankind.

In Beijing, I was warmly welcomed by senior officials, including H.E. Madam Hua Chunying, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Bing Zhang, Chief Planner of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The discussions reaffirmed China’s longstanding commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), multilateral cooperation, and the mandate and work of the Authority. We also exchanged views on the way forward for the draft exploitation regulations, with a shared commitment to advancing them in line with the Authority’s mandate to ensure that activities in the Area are carried out for the benefit of all humankind and with the effective protection of the marine environment.

I welcomed China’s recognition of the Authority’s important role in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, leveraging our knowledge and experience in regional environmental management plans, environmental impact assessments, and capacity development.

During the meetings with contractors sponsored by China, we discussed the challenges they face in carrying out their activities, particularly in relation to the transition from exploration to exploitation, and the support they would like to have from the Secretariat. The main challenges are related to regulatory uncertainty, economic instability, and reduced market demand for minerals. Contractors expressed their support for the mandate of ISA and are firmly committed to actively participating in ISA sessions and negotiations of the draft regulations. I was very impressed that the contractors’ training programmes have benefited more than 100 trainees from developing countries.

I was also impressed by the scale of China’s investment in marine scientific research, innovation, and technology development, as well as its exemplary record in training and knowledge transfer for developing States. These partnerships demonstrate how exploration in the Area can translate into tangible benefits through science, cooperation, and capacity building.

I was encouraged by China’s continued constructive engagement in the deliberations of the Council and its contributions to the development of the Mining Code. The visit made clear China’s priorities around getting rules and regulations in place, and I greatly appreciate China’s contributions to the “ICE” mechanism (Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement), REMPs (Regional Environmental Management Plans), and benefit sharing.

It was inspiring to see how China’s long-term vision for ocean science continues to evolve, blending innovation, stewardship, and collaboration, values that lie at the very heart of the Law of the Sea. It was also reassuring to witness China’s commitment to the rules-based regime of the International Seabed Authority, which underpins the very foundation of ocean governance.

As I concluded my visit, I was reminded that meaningful progress in global ocean governance depends on partnership, trust, and shared purpose. China’s integrated approach, linking research, technology, and environmental protection, offers valuable lessons for all of us. I left inspired by the expertise and commitment of our Chinese partners and confident that, together, we can ensure that the resources of the deep seabed are managed prudently, equitably, and for the benefit of all humanity.

Leticia Carvalho
Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority