KINGSTON, JAMAICA, 1 June 2011 – – Representatives of two member States presented their credentials to the Secretary‐General of the International Seabed Authority in May 2011.
They were Ambassador Zheng Qingdian of the Chinese Embassy and Ambassador Antonio Francisco da Costa e Silva Neto of the Brazilian
Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ambassador Zhen Qingdian presented his credentials on Monday 16 May 2011 as the new Permanent Representative of China to the Authority. He has represented China in many overseas postings in Asia, Afganistan and now in the Caribbean. China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA) of the People’s Republic of China is one of the eight contractors who have entered into a fifteen year contract with the Authority for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the deep sea. More recently COMRA has submitted another application to the Authority for the exploration of polymetallic sulphides.
Ambassador Antonio Francisco da Costa e Silva Neto presented his credentials on Thursday 26 May 2011. He began his career at the Brazilian Foreign Service in 1984 and has held several key overseas postings including representing Brazil at various conferences and meetings at the United Nations in New York and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. He has received decorations from Venezuela, Brazil, Portugal, Italy, Finland, Spain, France, Lebanon and Chile.