China and ISA sign MoU to establish first-ever joint training and research centre
The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) Mr. Michael W. Lodge signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, 18 October to establish the first ever joint training and research centre with Mr. Wang Hong, Administrator of State Oceanic Administration of China.
Under the MoU, ISA and China will work together to promote knowledge of the deep ocean and its environment, and enable developing countries to benefit from the mineral resources of the international seabed area, which are recognized as the common heritage of mankind. The joint training and research centre will be affiliated to the National Deep Sea Centre of China and hosted by the Centre in Qingdao.
In his remarks at the official signing ceremony held in Beijing, Mr. Lodge heralded “a new chapter of cooperation between ISA and China.”
“This centre will provide a new platform for the Authority to promote capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology for developing countries, and to advance and share human knowledge of the deep ocean and its environment,” said Mr. Lodge.
Main functions of the centre include the provision of training programmes in marine science and technology, as well as in techniques for marine scientific research designed to facilitate the full participation of developing States in activities in the international deep seabed Area.
The centre will also support the conduct of collaborative research programmes related to the latest developments concerning activities in the deep seabed, along with the organization of conferences and workshops, and the dissemination of the results of marine scientific research in easily accessible publications.
The text of the MoU was endorsed by the Assembly of ISA at its 25th session held in July 2019 in Kingston, Jamaica.