Ambassador Dean Jonas
Antigua and Barbuda has backed a proposal to establish the secretariat of a United Nations ocean treaty in Xiamen, China, with blue economy official Athill Dean Jonas highlighting potential benefits for Caribbean countries, China Daily reported.
Speaking during the 2026 World Ocean Week in Xiamen, Jonas said closer cooperation with China could help small island developing states protect marine resources, develop sustainable industries and strengthen energy security.
Xiamen is competing with Brussels, Belgium, and Valparaiso, Chile, to host the secretariat of the BBNJ Agreement, which covers the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
According to China Daily, the treaty entered into force in January. A decision on the secretariat’s location is scheduled for the first Conference of the Parties in January 2027.
Jonas said Caribbean economies’ dependence on tourism makes the protection of coastlines, coral reefs and other marine ecosystems essential to jobs and livelihoods.
He identified China’s experience in mangrove restoration, monitoring harmful algal blooms and researching coral bleaching as areas that could help Caribbean countries respond to environmental threats.
Renewable energy was another priority. Jonas said Chinese expertise in solar and wind power, supported by battery storage, could help islands reduce their reliance on imported fuel for electricity generation.
He also highlighted opportunities to build Caribbean expertise in ocean farming, artificial intelligence and technologies supporting sustainable marine industries.
China Daily reported that Jonas welcomed a project focused on integrating marine spatial planning and the blue economy in the Caribbean under the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
Led by China’s National Ocean Technology Center, the initiative was approved by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission in June. It aims to strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable marine industries across the region.
Source: China Daily
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda supports China’s bid to host UN ocean treaty secretariat.