Why Xiamen wants to be the home of the High Seas Treaty

As the 2026 World Ocean Week opens in southeast China's Xiamen, the coastal city is making its case for a new role in global ocean governance: hosting the Secretariat of the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement).

The treaty – formally known as the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction – entered into force on January 17, 2026.

It aims to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas and the international seabed area, covering marine genetic resources, area-based management tools, environmental impact assessments, and capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.

So why does the location matter? The Secretariat won't just handle logistics for the Conference of the Parties; it will help organize meetings, share implementation data and coordinate with other international bodies.

The decision will be made at the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties in New York from January 11 to 22, 2027. Xiamen, nominated by China, is in the running alongside Brussels (Belgium) and Valparaiso (Chile).

Xiamen's appeal is its deep marine research network. It hosts nearly 5,000 researchers and 30 science and technology platforms.

It is also home to the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center and the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Center.

Its World Ocean Week has run for 20 consecutive years, drawing over 2 million participants, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China is putting concrete support on the table, including a fully equipped 15-storey office building and two supporting buildings, provided free of charge on a long-term basis.

Beijing has pledged $3 million to a voluntary trust fund to help representatives from developing countries attend meetings, plus further contributions to a capacity-building fund.

For developing countries, meaningful participation in global ocean governance requires more than just a seat at the table – it requires access to scientific expertise, resources and international cooperation.

If selected, Xiamen aims to provide a conducive environment where these needs are met and the treaty's ambitions can be turned into practical cooperation.

For more:

2026 World Ocean Week spotlights China's ocean governance role