The 11th China-ASEAN Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the DOC Held

The 11th China-ASEAN Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (JWG on the DOC) was held on June 24 and 25, 2014 in Bali, Indonesia. A Chinese delegation led by Mr. He Wei, Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the meeting. Delegation members included Deputy Director General Chen Yue, and Deputy Division Chief Wang Antao of the Department of International Cooperation of the State Oceanic Administration and Mr. Zhang Xuelei of the First Institute of Oceanography, SOA.

Deputy Director General Chen Yue briefed on major responsibilities of the State Oceanic Administration, and the four seminars including the China-ASEAN Seminar on Maritime Technological Cooperation within the China-ASEAN framework. Talking about the low-sensitive maritime cooperation with ASEAN member states, he urged relevant countries to continue to support the above-mentioned activities, to set up at an early date the Commission on Maritime Research and Technologies for Environmental Protection, to explore measures in tackling maritime disasters, maritime pollution, ecological protection, etc. faced by countries in the South China Sea, and to translate maritime technologies to maritime economic growth with better perception of the ocean. 

Mr. Zhang Xuelei made a report on certain projects by China and ASEAN member states in maritime survey, environmental protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, and personal training, etc. He also made three proposals for future cooperation: first, to invite experts to seminars in the DOC Implementation Framework for detailed discussions about specific cooperation projects; second, to invite experts from ASEAN member states to take part in the implementation of the three joint projects sponsored by the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund—Cooperation for Endangered Species, Mechanism on Maritime Environmental Forecasting and Disaster Mitigation, Beibu Bay Maritime Environmental Management; and third, to encourage application for the Chinese Government Ocean Scholarship by experts from ASEAN member states to enhance their research capabilities. 

With numerous illustrations concerning cooperation in the South China Sea, the speech by the Chinese side demonstrated its endeavors in promoting pragmatic cooperation in the waters and received applause from representatives to the meeting. 

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Chinese delegation had a bilateral dialogue with the division chief of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand and exchanged views on bilateral activities and the funding of the Commission on Maritime Research and Technologies for Environmental Protection. First, it was suggested by Thailand to hold in Qingdao the 3rd Meeting of China-Thailand Management Committee on Joint Laboratories on July 27 and the 8th China-Thailand Seminar on Maritime Technologies on 28 and 29. Second, Thailand proposed the 3rd Meeting of China-Thailand Joint Commission on Maritime Cooperation to be held on August 1 in Beijing. Third, the Second China-ASEAN Forum on Maritime Cooperation was projected in Thailand in late September, with outcome reports of cooperation to be handed in to leaders of East Asia. Fourth, the two countries would join hands in promoting the establishment of the Commission on Maritime Research and Technologies for Environmental Protection, with its first commission meeting held in Thailand on the sidelines of JWG on the DOC in October in Thailand.