October 22, 2019
On 21 October 2019, the first Program on Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) of China-ASEAN Academy on Ocean Law and Governance was launched in Haikou, China. The program is co-organized by the CSARC and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), and supported by the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS) of the University of Wollongong.
Counselor Sun Lushan from the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the opening ceremony of the program, and delivered a keynote speech. He briefly introduced China’s ocean policy, with emphasis on the concept of building a community of a shared future and the initiative of 21st Century Maritime Silkroad. And he highlighted that the pragmatic cooperation between China and ASEAN countries on ocean affairs is an essential part of their strategic partnership. Regarding the South China Sea, he pointed out that cooperation has been pushed forward in various fields under the framework of Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Especially, cooperation in MLE has made substantive progress. Sun also clarified China’s position as well as policy approaches and objectives in the South China Sea. He emphasized that the peace and stability of the South China Sea is closely related to the security, development and wellbeing of its coastal communities. Parties related should work together to further promote mutual understanding, accumulate political trust, properly manage differences, seek for win-win cooperation and common development, so as to pave the way for the final settlement of the dispute. In this sense, this MLE program has provided a timely and excellent opportunity for participating countries to enhance cooperation in relevant fields. Participants could take full advantage of this program to intensify their exchanges of views and opinions, make in-depth study of relevant laws and regulations, to learn and benefit from each other’s experiences, expertise, and good practice, and jointly seek for practical solutions to the existing problems and disputes. On the one hand, China and relevant countries should take advantage of existing dialogues and mechanisms to enrich existing channels, strengthen cooperation in MLE, substantiate cooperation content, expedite regulatory and platform construction, and to raise cooperation level to a new height. On the other hand, relevant countries need to further concentrate on cooperation, enhance capability building, and create a relatively stable and favorable legal framework to build peaceful, stable and prosperous oceans.
Mr. Yang Li, Assistant President and Director of Research Center for Maritime Economy of NISCSS and Professor Warwick Gullett from ANCORS also delivered welcome remarks at the opening ceremony on behalf of the organizers and speakers respectively.
