Vote of Thanks at the 2022 Beijing Blue Talks

H.E. Mr. Jose Augusto Duarte, Ambassador of Portugal to China,

H.E. Mr. José Maria Costa, Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs,

H.E. Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kenya,

H.E. Ambassador Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean.

Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,

In June 2017, the UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres made a profound remark at the Ocean Conference co-hosted by Sweden and Fiji in New York:

“We are here today to take decisive action to nurture and protect the lifeblood of our planet. Oceans and seas cover two-thirds of our home. Maybe we should change its name from ‘Planet Earth’ to ‘Planet Water.’ Oceans provide food, energy, water, jobs and economic benefits for people in every country – even those that are landlocked. They are a crucial buffer against climate change and a massive resource for sustainable development.”

These remarks hold germane and count even as proceeds to Lisbon for the next Ocean Conference which will be held just ten days from now.

Excellencies, Ladies, and Gentlemen,

It is my honour to conclude the insightful and fruitful discussion held today.

First, I want to thank the team from the Embassy of Portugal and the Embassy of Kenya for their diligent work in making today’s Blue Talks a reality.

The earth is called a ‘blue marble’ for a reason. In this interconnected and interdependent world today, we cannot forget that the Ocean covers over 70 per cent of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth.

Next week, we celebrate World Oceans Day, but it is clear that our Ocean needs greater support. With 90 per cent of big fish populations depleted and 50 per cent of coral reefs destroyed, we are taking more than can be replenished, requiring our collective action.

In this regard, I want to express deep appreciation to the Governments of Kenya and Portugal for co-hosting the UN Ocean Conference this June.

I am confident, as Special Envoy Peter Thomson said, that today’s Blue Talks and the Ocean Conference in June will fuel our quest to “provide solutions”.

I would also like to thank Ambassador Duarte, Secretary Costa, and Ambassador Kamau for their addresses. Your remarks have pointed out the way for the world to renew political will and drive new partnerships to preserve and protect our Ocean, and how the UN can help Member States achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 to realize the entire 2030 Agenda together.

The Ocean is a vast and constant mobile resource. To understand the ocean better, we need to rely on innovations in science and technology. The in-depth panel discussion has shown us how we could mainstream marine science, especially regarding the collection, management, and sharing of Ocean-related data for better ocean management.

I had the privilege of working with Ms. Akiko Yamamoto who is on the panel today, to support the Kenyan government, together with Japan and Canada hosted the Blue Economy Conference in 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was clear then, that the Ocean and blue economy itself for Africa would be 6-7 trillion dollars’ worth by 2030. The economic potential is massive, and it is how we can convene, connect and catalyze together to really find the true value of our Ocean by sustainable economic development of our water, marine and blue resources.

In this regard, China’s efforts are critical if we are to realize SDG 14. With its extensive coastline and numerous islands, China has a vibrant Ocean economy and thus has a crucial role to play in the reduction of Ocean pollution and Ocean ecosystem protection.

Moreover, as one of the world’s most advanced technology powerhouses, China has much more to offer for data sharing and research in the advancement of SDG 14. The UN in China has worked closely to support the Government of China in the preservation of coastal habitats and wildlife for many years.



Notably, we have recently commenced a partnership with the Center for International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, which has launched a satellite designated for the realization of all Goals, including SDG 14.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a critical moment, and I feel deeply honoured here as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, together with the Ambassador of Portugal and Charge d’Affaires of Kenya to advance the discussion through the Blue Talks on the importance of the Ocean Conference in China.

I was very much involved with the former Ambassador of Portugal to Kenya in working with them and Kenya on the road to Lisbon. I am delighted this conference is going to happen now. As the Ambassador of Sri Lanka said, we must come out with concrete results and look at the basic finance to support our economy and advance SDG 14.

The Ocean produces 50 per cent of the planet’s oxygen and absorbs about 30 per cent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming. If we are to tackle climate change, an existential crisis that we all face, we must protect the lungs of our Planet. Today’s discussion is not a conclusion, but the beginning of a call for all of us to act to preserve our dearest blue Ocean and create a better world ahead.

Thank you very much for your kind participation, and I wish the 2022 UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon a great success!